5175 
^ N6 
>y 1 








^^ DE WITT'S ACTING PLAYS, ei 

(Niam"ber 3. 



e;* 




A ROMANTIC DRAMA, 



By watts PHILLIPS, Esq,, 

AS FIBST PERFORMED AT THE NEW SURREY THEATRE, liONDON, 

UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF MESSRS. SHEPHERD & 

CRESWICK, SEPTEMBER IAtH, 1867. 

TO WHICH ABE ADDED 

A description of the Costume-Cast of the Characters— Entrancer and Exits- 

Relative Positions of the Performers on the Stage, and 

the whole of the Stage Business. 



-»->-40 » A ■*- 




ROBERT M. DE WITT, PUBLISHER, 
No. 33 Hose Street- 




u 



r ^ /^STIES- An Original Tomedy in Three Acts. By T. W. Robert- 
2ioW ' son, l-sq. Price Fifteen Genu. 

MBADY. 1 filOO,000- A Comedy in Three Acts. By Henry J. Byron. 
I Price Fifteen Cents. 



DE WITT'S ACTING PLAYS. 



1 



Please notice that nearly all the Comedies, Farces and Comediettas in the following 
^isto/Ds Witt's Acting Plats" are very siiiiablefor representation in small Amateur Thea- 
tres and on Parlor Stages, as they need but little extrinsic aid from complicated scenery or 
expensive costumes. They have attained their deserved popularity by their droll situations^ 
excellent plots, great humor and brilliant dialogues, no less than by the fact that they are the 
most perfect in every respect of any edition of 2)lays ever published either in the United States 
or Europe, whether as regards purity of the text, accuracy and fulness of stage directions and 
scenery, or elegance of typography and clearness of printing. 

*;).* In ordering please copy the figures at the commer^ement of each piece, which indicate 
the number of the piece in " De Witt's List of Acting Plays." 

[[[^ Any of the following Plays sent, postage free, on receipt of price — 15 
cents each. 



Acts. 



The fio-ure following the name of the Play denotes the number of 
The fio-ures in the columns indicate the number of characters — M. waZe; 



F. female. 

No. M. V. 

75. Adrienne, drama, 3 acts 7 3 

114. Anything for a Change, comedy, 13 3 

167. Apple Blossoms, comedy, 3 acts — 7 3 

93. Area Belle (The), farce, 1 act 3 2 

40. Atchi, comedietta, 1 act 3 2 

89. Aunt Charlotte's Maid, farce. 1 act. . 3 3 

192. Game of Cards (A), comedietta, 13 1 

166. Bardell vs. Pickwick, sketch, 1 act. 6 2 

41. Beautiful Forever, farce, 1 act 2 3 

141. Bells (The), drama, 3 acts 9 3 

67. Birthplace of Podgers, farce, 1 act., 7 3 
36. Black Sheep, drama, 3 acts 7 5 

160. Blow for Blow, dran>a, 4 acts 11 6 

70. Bonnie Fish Wife, farce, 1 act 3 1 

179. Breach of Promise,, drama, 2 acts.. 5 2 

25. Broken-Hearted Club, comedietta, 14 8 

24. Cabman, No. 93, farce, 1 act 2 2 

1. Caste, comedy, 3 acts 5 3 

69. Caus;ht by the Cuff, farce, 1 act 4 1 

175. Cast upon the World, drama, 5acts.l0 5 
55. Catharine Howard, historical play, 

^^ 3 acts .^ 12 5 

80. Charming pair, farce, 1 act. ; 4 3 

65. Checkmate, comedy, 2 acts 6 5 

68. Chevalier de St. George, drama, 3 9 3 

76. Chops of the Channel, farce, 1 act. 3 2 

149. Clouds, comedy, 4 acts 8 7 

121. Comical Countess, farce, 1 act 3 1 

107. Cupboard Love, farce, 1 act 2 1 

152. Cupid's Eye-Glass, coaiedy, 1 act... 1 1 

' 52. Cup of Tea, comedietta, 1 act 3 1 

148. Cut off with a Shilling, comedietta, 

1 act 2 1 

113. Cyrill's Success, comedy, 5 acts — 10 4 
199. Captain of the Watch (The), come- 
dietta, 1 act 4 2 

20. Daddy Gray, drama, 3 acts 8 4 

4. Dandelion's Dodges, farce, 1 act.... 4 2 

22. David Garrick, comedy, 3 acts 8 3 

96. Dearest Mamma, comedietta, 1 act, 4 3 

16. Dearer than Life, drama, 3 acts.... 6 5 

58. Deborah (Leah) drama, 3 acta 7 6 

125. Deerfoot, farce, 1 act 5 1 

71. Doing for the Best, drama, 2 acts.. 5 3 
44). Dollars and Cents, comedy, 3 acta.. 9 4 



No. M. r. 

21. Dreams, drama, 5 acts 6 3 

186. Duchessdela Valliere, play, 5 acts. . 6 4 
47. Easy Shaving, farce, 1 act 5 2 

13). Everybody's Friend, comedy, 3 acts. 6 5 

200. Estranged, an operetta, 1 act 2 1 

103. Faust and Marguerite, drama, 3 acts, 9 7 
9. Fearful Tragedy in the Seven Dials, 

interlude, 1 act 4 1 

128. Female Detective, drama, 3 acts 11 4 

101. Fernande, drama, 3 acts 11 10 

99. Fifth Wheel, comedy, 3 acts 10 2 

145. First Love, comedy, 1 act 4 1 

102. Foiled, drama, 4 acts r. . 9 3 

88. Founded on Facts, farce, 1 act.. ..42 

74. Garrick Fever, farce, 1 act 7 4 

53. Gertrude's Money Box, farce, 1 act. 4 2 

73. Golden Fetter (Fettered), drama, 3 11 4 
30. Goose with the Golden Eggs, farce, 

1 act 5 3 

131. Go to Putney, farce, 1 act 4 3 

28. Happy Pair, comedietta, 1 act 1 1 

151. Hard Case (A), farce, 1 act 2 

8. Henry Dunbar, drama, 4 acts 10 3 

180. Henry the Fifth, historical play, 5 38 5 

19. He's a Lunatic, farce, 1 act 3 2 

60. Hidden Hand, drama, 4 acts 5 5 

187. His Own Enemy, farce, 1 act 4 1 

174. Home, comedy, 3 acts 4 3 

64. Household Fairy, sketch, 1 act 1 1 

190. Hunting the Slipper, farce, 1 act 4 1 

191. High C, comedietta, 1 act 4 2 

197. Hunchback (The), play, 5 acts 14 2 

18. If I Had a Thousand a Year, farce, 

1 act 4 3 

116. I'm Not Mesilf at All, original Irish 

stew, 1 act , 3 9 

129. In for a Holiday, farce, 1 act 2 3 

159. In the Wrong House, farce, 1 act. . . 4 S 

122. Isabella OrsiTiJ, drama, 4 acts 11 4 

177. I Shall Invite the Major, comedy, 14 1 

100. Jack Long, drama, 2 acts 9 2 

139. Joy is Dangerous, comedy, 2 acts. . . 3 3 

17. Kind to a Fault, comedy, 2 acts. . . . 6 4 

86. Lady of Lyons, play, 5 acts 12 5 

72. Lame Excuse, farce, 1 act 4 2 



I^OBODY'S CI-IILD. 



A ROMANTIC DRAMA 



IN THREE ACTS. 



By watts PHILLIPS, Esq. 

Author of ^^The Dead Heart," " The Huguenot Captain" ^^PauVs 

Return," ^c. 



AS FIRST PRODUCED A.T THE NEW SURREY THEATRE, LONDON, 

SEPTEMBER 14, 1867, UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OP 

MESSES. SHEPHERD & CRESWICK. 



WHICH ARK ADX)ED 

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUME — CAST OF THE CHARACTERS — EN- 
TRANCES AND EXITS RELATIVE I'OSITIONS OF THE PER- 
FORMERS ON THE STAGE, AND THE AVHOLE 
OF THE STAGE BUSINESS, 



NEW YORK: 

ROBERT M. DE WITT, PUBLISHER, 
NO, 33 E03E STREET. 



sn 



TK517.? 



NOBODY >S CHILD. 



1 1 ^_- 



CAST OF CHARACTERS. 

JVi'w Surrey Thfalre, FourLeenlh Street Theatre, 
London, Sept. 14, 1867. New York, April 11, 1871, 

Sir Robert Tregarvon, of Tregar- 

von Castle Mr. C. Botleu. Mi-. Wm. Huuley. 

Capt. Dudley Lazonby (his Pre- 
sumed Friend — attached to the 

y turf) Mr. E. F. Edgak. Mr. Fkank Mordaunt. 

George Penryn (a young Cornish 

Squire) Mr. Ellertos. Mr. M. A. Kennedy. 

Joe (Nobody's Child) Mr. Creswick. Mr. Creswick. 

Peter Grice (Landlord of the Tre- 
garvon Arms, and Postmaster 

of the village) Mr. Yollairs, . Mr. Harry Pearson. 

Jack Adams (the Admiral's Cox- 
swain) Mr. W. noLSTON. Mr. M. Painford. 

Hon. Alfred Renarth'i (Members f Mr. Allbuook. Mr. Allbuook. 

Capt. Callington I of the J Mr. Dalmain. Mr. Dallmaix. 

Sir William Norval t Treg'rvon j Mr. Newman. Mr. L. Raavson. 

Mr. Petherick J Hunt.) [, Mr. Hummerton. Mr. Holland. 

Limping Dick (Whipper-in and 

Huntsman) Mr. Ed. Terky, Mr. Wsi. Davidge, Jr. 

Dan Hurley (a Cornish Wrestler 

and Miner) Mr. Paul. Mr. F. Dovey. 

Old John Poiuice (a Fisherman).. Mr. C, Lloyds. Mr. J. S. Rooney. 

Job Holdfast Mr. Williams. Mr. B. Jarrett. 

Jim Bodmin (Guard of the Fal- 
mouth coach) Mr. Silvain. Mr. E. Lewis. 

Tom Padston (the Coachman) Mr. Roberts. Mr. J. AV. Forrest. 

Leather Flap (Lazonby's Valet). ..Mr. Hastings. Mr. L. Batkman. 

Bob Mr. Smith. Mr. C. Lewis. 

Miss Lucy Tregarvon Miss Emma Roberts. Miss Alice Biiooks. 

Patty Lavrock (her Foster-sister, 

Joe's true Friend) Georiann.a Pouncefout. Miss Laur.a Keene. 

Mrs. Padston Miss Sarah Geumo.v. 

Fishermen, Passengers, Villagers, Policemen, etc., etc. 



TIME IN REPRESENTATION— TWO HOURS AND A QUARTER. 



TIME— Tn Si nt. SCEXE— Cotmwcdl. 



ACT 7.— The Rocks !—Post-liouse and Village of St. Arven. 

ACT 7/.— The Fairy's Well and Trysting PLvce— The Rivine. 

■^CT iii.— Room in the Castle— Tower of Tregarvon and surrounding country. 



STAGE DIEECTl ON 8. 

R. means Right of Stage, facing the Audience ; L. Left; C. Centre; R. C. Right 
of Centre ; L. C. Loft of Centre, D. F. Door in the Flat, or Scene running across 
the back of the Stai^e ; C. D. F. Centre Door in the Flat ; R. D. F. RigJit Door in 
the Flat; L. D, F. Left Door in the Flat ; R. d! Right Dqor ; L. D. Left Door ; 1 E 
First Entrance; 2 E. Second Eatrance- U. E. Upper Entrance ; 1, 2 or 3 G. First 
Second or Third Grooves. 

^' RC. C. L. C. L. 

I^g" The reader is supposed to be upon the stage facing the audience. 



G»FT 
EST. OF J H. CORNING 

1 1 I Ki cr orv 1 Q iO 



NOIJODY S CQILD. 



SCENERY. 



ACT L— The village of St. Arven. 



\5 



Path 

' ;d 

— 


Wild land. 

airy 


jcape 


with 


view of Trei^arvon Castle. 

I Tregarvou Arms 

Post Office. 
I 


1 

• 1 
1 

/ 


Benches and Tables. 



For elaborate verbal description see page 5, 

ACT II. — Scene 1. — the Fairy Well, Pretty Cornish Scenery. 

For elaborate verbal description see page 17. 

Scene 2. — The liavine. 
For elaborate verbal descripLion see page 23. 

ACT III. — Scene 1. — Boom in Tregarwn Cattle. 

Scene 2. — Intenor of a tower in Tregarcon Castle. 

For elaborate verbal particulars see page 32. 



COSTUME. 

SirKobert Tregarvon. — 1st dress: Scarlet hunting coat, buckskin breeches, 

velvet huntinof cap, riding boots. 2/id dre^s: Black frock coat, white 

vest, grey trou.sers. 
Captain Dudley Lazonby. — l."?^ dress: Fashionable morning suit, dark 

brown overcoat, address: Black frock coat, vest and trousers, 

summer overcoat. 
George Penryn. — Ist dress: Scarlet hunting coat, biickskin breeches, velvet 

hunting cap, top boots. 2d dress: Fashionable suit. 
Joe. — Old smock frock, tattered blue trousers, red woollen shirt, hair long 

and dishevelled. 
Peter Grice. — Brown coat, light double-breasted vest, black breeches and 

gaiters, red night-cap. 
LixPLNG Dick. — Scarlet hunting coat, white cord breeches, riding boots, 

white hat. 
Jack Adams. — Sailor's blue suit, glazed hat. 
Dan Hurley. — Blue pea jacket, with large pearl buttons, drab trousers, 

high boots, fur cap. 
John PoRNic— Blue Guernsey shirt, petticoat trousers, high fishing boots, 

tarpauling hat. 
Mr. &LINKEH. — Shabby black coat, vest and trousers, white neckerchief. 
Miss Lucy Tregarvon. — 1st dress: Blue riding habit, hat and feather. 

2d dress: Elegant silk dress, black lace shawl, white bonnet. 3d dress r 

White muslin trimi^d with lace and velvet. 
Patty Lavrock — Light chintz gown, drawn up, blue petticoat, yellow silk 

neckerchief. 



PROPERTIES. 

Act 1. — Benches and wooden tables, churn.'J, and agricultural implements, 
jatcher of milk, letters, milk cans and yoke, jug, basket of eggs, 
and butter, wares for pedlar, lump of bread, basket of peas, coach, 
&c. parcels, bandbox, w.th chignon, pig in hamper, mail bag, tin 
case for will, trust of straw, bottle, glasses, whips, piece of 
money. 

Act 2. —Letter-bag, letter, pitcher, comb, scissors, crows, stones, whip, 
lantern, staff, ro-;e, matches, branch of tree. 

Act 3. — Pocket-book and notes, salver uitli glasses and wine, letter, legal 
document, furniture, toilette table, mirror, vase of flowers, bed, 
curtains, chair, riding habit, hat, whip, small fowling-piece, 
night-lamp, rope of alarm bell, an owl, crisp bank-notes, spring 
handle-knife. 

\_For Synopsis of the Play, see page 38.] 



NOBODY'S CHILD. 



SCENE. — The V Hag" of St. Arvenin Cornwall. To R., down stage, is 
the " Treqnrvon yhv//.v,'* a small country inn, and also tliepoftt-ojfice. Sta- 
bling and Old bill Id: rigs, some benches and wo den tabl s in front. At back 
a wild landscape, trood and rocks — a icinding, irregular path goes up, <iitd 
is lost among the laihr — in dim distance L., Trigarvoii Castle is seen — an 
ancient and craig -perched pile of buildings — L. a dairy, ^ c. <^c. Churns, 
agricultural ivi]>lemcnts, S^c The scene wild and very picturesque, 
but the detail of foreground to be as realistic as possible. 

Two 8A1LOKS disco^-ered at table, R., they knock on table for drink 
— VoTBOY comes out of inn, R , to serve them. Villagk Lass comes from 
dairy Jj. 2 'R.. luith pitcher of mil k,passes off, R. 1 F. — VAQY.comes on from 
L. 3 E., with letters, puts them in ]>Ost-oJfice, R., andpasses <^, R. 1 E. — 
Milkman enters from dairy xvith milk-cans and yoke. Boxj enters with jug 
from R. 3 K. . he is served, business. Milkman exits R. 3 E. Boy exits L.8 
lE,.,then sneaks into dairy — DAIRYMAID enters fj^om dairy irithbasket of eggs 
and butter, exitn. 3 E , — John Pornice enters!.. 3jk., goes to post-ojfice. 
receives letter, .'^hows joy and exits R. 1 E. — PeDI.AR enters with wares, 
L. 3 E., followed by male and female PEASANTS. VllJ^AGl- R and his Sweet- 
heart from R. 1 E. shows and sells his icares, busi7}ess and exeunt — SaiL- 
OES exeunt ivhcn Pedj.ar comes on. All off before Lvcy enters. Jinter MiSS 
Tregarvon at back, R. 8 E., wearing riding habit. As she comes down 
stage Pa'ITY Lavrock heard singing off stage, E. 3 E. 

Enter Patty, l. u. e , singing, she carries milk pails, and does not 
at Jirst see Miss Tregarvon. 

Lucy, (l.) Here conip> Patly witli a s< njij on her lips os usual. 

P.\TTY, (E.) Joe ! (calling) Joe ! come and help me to carry the milk 
into the dairy. Where is he ? (about to cross stage, she sets Miss Tre- 
garvon) What, Miss Lucy ! (putting dcim milk pails and clapping ?ier 
hands) Pm so jilad to see yon. 

Lucy. Joe has just taken my horse round to the forpe. My brotlier 
an'l Mr. Penryn will join me here. Wliy, Patty, how pretty you look ! 
what, wouldn't a Lonf'on lady gfive for such a colour? 

Patty, (laughing and rubbing cheek) And it's a g-ood wearing colour, 
too— but it's all very well for you. Miss Lucy, to praise me. VV hen 
folks are as rich in beauty as yourself they can afford to be generous. 
I'm prouder of being: Miss Lucy Tregarvop's foster sister than of any 
compliments that are paid me. 



nobody's child. 

Lucy, {talcing her hands) And I'm proud of having such a friend as 
Piitty liiivrock. 

Patty. Friend ! oh ! pray don't talk ]ike that, Miss Lucy — friend, 
indeed ! wliat would Sii- Eobert say if lie knew I'd made so free? 

Lucy. What Sir Robert lias said before, and very often, that I was 
fortunate in liavinj^ so charming a cradle companion, (change of man- 
ner) My poor brother ! this is the last run we shall have with the 
Treuarvon liMunds. The raortgafrees sell up the dear old castle to- 
morrow. It's a ruined family the Tregarvon's, Patty. 

Patty. But if your uncle, the admiral, should die? 

Lucy. That's not at all probable — he is such a hale and hearty man 
— and if he did, there's no knowing to v/hom he would leave his 
money. He quarrelled with my brother because he would not make 
the sea his profession, and since that time has led an eccentric, wan- 
dering life in his yacht, with only an old coxswain for friend and boon 
companion. There's no help for it. The assignment takes place to- 
morrow, and Tregarvon Castle passes, for the first time since it was 
built, into the hands of strangers. Sir Robert goes abroad to retrench, 
and I — gueps, Patty ? 

Patty. I dare nor. 'Twill break my heart if you also quit the 
neighborhood of St. Arven. 

Lucy. This morning I accepted an offer of marriage from Mr. George 
Penryn. 

Patty. Mr. Penryn of Penryn Court, {clapping hounds) And Penryn 
Coart is only two miles from here ! I'm so glad ! {changing her tone to 
one of laughing banter) But how about that splendid military gentle- 
man who was down here, at the castle, shootin<jf last year, and who 
everybody said was your most devoted humble servant when you 
passed the winter in London ? 

Lucy, {carelessly) 1 suppose you mean Captain Lazonby ? 

Patty. Of coarse I do— Captain Dudley Lazonby of the Ahmeduug- 
gar Rifles, doesn't that sound nice? Mrs. Captain Dudley Lazonby of 
the Ahinednu':rgar Rifles. It has a better ring, to my mind, than Mrs. 
George Penryn. 

Lucy. D spite the ring, Patty, I know which is the genuine metal. 
Captain L-izonby. unfortunately, is still my brother's friend — he is no 
longer mine. 

Patty. But 

Lucy. There are no buts at all in this matter. Do not mention Cap- 
tain L:\z )nby's name to me ajrain. When his attentions pleased me I 
was a mere girl. In a week I shall be the wife of George Penryn 
{modi ng Mp stage) They must have shod Starbright by this time. Good 
bye, Patty. {Exit E. 3 E. 

Patty, (as she takes up pails) Not mention Captain Liz )nby ! I 
nev.^r lieard Miss Lucy speak s ) sharp before. dooking toirards castle 
on heights) Tlieold castle too, goinof out of the faniily ! My uncle al- 
ways saidtiiat wlien Sir Roberc Tm^k to horses he'd go to the doofs. It's 
a jxreat pity thougii. (going to dairy) Joe mi siht have got l)ack from 
the forge by this time to have helped me with my pnVs. (Exit in dairy, 
L — as she does so the latticed window beneath the board marked " Post 
Office' is thrown open, and Peter Gkice's head is popped out -he 
wears horn spectacles and a red night cap.) 

Grice. Joe! Where's that Joe got to? If I Daid him for his servi- 
ces, he couldn't be more neglectful than he is. (as he draws in head. 



ACT I. 7 

and slams to loindow, Patty re-appeai's idth a shallow basket of peas, 
which seating herself l., 7iear dairy door, she begins shelling.) 

Patty. Now su])pose I liad a lover who was called 

Geice. {opens windoio a little tcay, calls, and then slams it to) Joe ! 

Patty. No ! I don't mean tliar. Poor Joe ! a queer sort of lover 
lie'd make, {laughs and sings as she shells peas ^ 

Knees knocking together in trembling J'rigbt, 
One eye looking let't, the other eye right ; 

GiircE. {dashing open window again— this time protruding head and 
Bhoiilders) Patty! hold your row! How cm I sort the letters and 
you making that noise? I3ut stay I've something else to talk to you 
about, {he disap2')ears from windoiD to re appear at door — as he comes 
out, n., he puts on coat, spealdng snappishly the while — R.) 1 want to 
know if it's your intention to eai me out of house and home? Do you 
hear, Miss Impudence ! 

Patty, {still shelling peas — l.) I'm not deaf, uncle — you needn't waste 
the remainder of your life by snying the same things twice over. 

GmcE. What's this ? {shoicing lump of bread.) 

Patty. Can't tell till 1 look at it nearer, {biting piece out of it) It 
tastes like bread. 

GiiiCE. {snatching it hack). It is bread, you baggage ! bread wliicli I 
found behind the large churn in the dairy — I found some milk there too. 

Patty. Very likely — isn't the dairy the proper place for it ? 

GmcE. {eating the bread.) That milk and bread was put aside for 
some one. Tliis morsel of bread, I say, was pilfered ! 

Patty, {rising) Pilfered — and from me ! You're quite right, uncle. 
It was a part of my breakfast that I put aside for Joe, 

Geice. Joe ! Joe ! 

Patty. Poor Joe ! He'd starve, if there weren't some christians iu 
the village. 

Geice. What do you mean by christians? Do you think I'm going 
to liy iu the face of Providence? If I we.t and relieved all the starving 
people, what chance would Providence get for coming out strong — be- 
sides, charity begins at home, {still eating) And if I'm too liberal in my 
allowance to you, act honestly, and return the (iverplus. 

Patty, {idth an affected simplicity) Talking of return, uncle, there's 
that little bit of money my mother left me which you have kept so long 
that — 

Geice. {alarmed) There! there! that's just like you, Patty, always 
hurting your uncle's feelings. You' re a good girl, a very good riil 
(patting her with exaggerated affection on the back,) And when I've 
scraped a little money tdgether I'll make you a present of something. 
Patty. You, uncle, make me a present ! 

Geice. A nice lettuce, or— or a bag of shrimps ? some little relish 
that we can enjoy together. Oh, don't be afraid, with me a kindnes.s 
is never thrown away. 

Patty. I wish sometimes you'd throw it back, uncle. 

Grice. You're alluding to the bread, (forcing back iipon herthemry 

. ^rnaZl fragment noiD left) Take it— take it— give it away it you like! 

The whole village may rob your poor uncle, and he mu.->tn't complam. 

Patey. (indignantly) If nobody robs you more than Joe, you haven't 

much occasion to complain. 

Geice. Joe ! What have you got to do with Joe ? A half-witted va. 
gabond — a nobody's child ! — a human waif claimed by no one. 



O NOBODY S CHILD. 

Patty, {sadly) A drifting weed, poor fellow, tliat lias found every 
heart a rock ! 

Grice. Who, because he was washed ashore here twenty years ago 
lied to a frafrment of wreck, thinks lie's got a claim on the village. You 
and Miss Tregarvon spoil him. 

Patty. H.:! must Jive! 

GitrcE. I don't see it — there's not the slightest necessity for anything 
of the kind. It's a piece of impertinent presumption on his part. 
Patty. Ht^'s no relations 

Grice. I congratulate him. Relations are always bad when they're 
hot rich. I've always sad that the most fortunate thing for a man is to 
be born in the workhouse. 

Patty. You think so ? 

Grice. Sure of it — no prejudice — no cant, no humbug. That's the 
place for freedom — there no one cares whether you live or die, as long 
as you keep your elbows out of tlu ir ribs, and your feet off their corns. 
Now, Joe, (^shouts and laughter, R. u. e.) 

Joe rushes on pursued hy Boys. They halt at bark loith shouts of deri- 
sion, laugh, scatter, and go off as Fatty, toho had stejipedbefore JoEin- 

dignantly turns upon them. He is a melancholy object to look at, being 

absolutely in rags. A mid, eccentric, timid creature. The only thing 

bright about him are the eyes, as they glance in a quick, nervous iray 

from beneath the matted masses of hair that fall quite over forehead. 

Though a fine grown man he stoops and slouches along in a furtive^ 

half ashamed way. 

Grice. (as Joe comes dozen stage) What are you running from ? 

Joe. {sullenly, his head down) Ttie boys. 

GRiCii;. Wiiat were you doing? (Patty comes down K.) 

Joe. Watching the forge. Tiiere's friendship in fire. I like to see 
the dull ashes quicken into flame, and feel the sparks dance and tingle 
on my face and hands. 

Grice. Nonsense. Joe ! 

Joe. {with momentary enthusiasm^ And I like to hear the hammera 
wlien fire has soiti-ned the heart of iron, as they come clanking down 
and beat it into form. 

Patty, {very kindly) Wiiat's tlie matter with your fac^-, Joe ? 

Joe. {who has relap.sed into his habitual didl despondency, passes liamd. 
across face, looks at back of it andlaughs) It's cut with a stone that's all, 
Patty. 

Patty. All ! who did it ? 

Jof:, {carelessly) The miller's son. He'd have thrown another, but 1 
got out of his way. 

Patty. Oli, Joe! I'm ashamed of you— afraid of a lad like that ! 
(Joe shrugs his shoulders.) 

Grice. {aside) He threw a stone at ine tlie other day. {aloud) You 
shoul.l h\V(i bfok'-n ev.^ry honc^ in his body. 

Joe. {with asort of simple surprise) Wliat for? If I had thras'ud him 
his lathei- miglit, have f nudout that, he cut my face, then he'd have 
thrashed him again ; besides, hi- father i>ave me shelter in liis barn 
last night, and what's worth much more, he gave me kind words. He 
would have jriven me work, but he says I'm lialf-witted. 

Paity. Poor Joe ! 

Grice. And so y,)u expect to live doing nothing? 

Joe. Wuy not ? I'm Nobody's Child you knou-, and want but little. 
The sea's a sort of mother to me, though a cruel one ; for it was she 



ACT I. 9 

wlio, after dandlinor me in her rough lap, tlirew me like a pebble on 
the bwich. I love her for all that, and am frrateful when the wind 
blows lier Silt kisses on my face and lips. 
Grtce. Ah ! 

Joe. She brincrs me stores of shell fish ton, and hides them for me 
cunninofly nmong- the rocks, wliilst she heaps up soft moss, s for mv 
bed in the caverns of the cliffis. {his face hrightens fis he speaks, andhis 
manner grows loildly animated for a moment to sink into the same dull 
despondency) I like to watch her when sue throws off her treacherous 
smile, and builds up a hundred watery walls, each onehiofher than tlie 
otlier, to topple them over with a crash upon the shore! Who else can 
boast such a mother as minn? (crosses L. his voice sinks, he shakes his 
head dejectedly, and Ids head droops forward as before) I would <i() 
back to sleep in her bosom to-morrow if she'd only promise not to 
throw me a^;iin on tl)is cruel earth. 

Grick. {sharply, as Joe is momng up stage) What are you g:oing: to do 
now ? 

Joe. Sleep and dream ! sleep and dream ! {horn of stage coach heard 
vyithout off stage at ba^k.) 

Gkice. You're jroino; to do nothinof of the kind. Here's the coach 
from Falmouth cominj^ in. Get the ])arcels down, while I attend to 
tliH passengers if there are any — dream indeed ! there's nothinii' trot 
unless you're wide awake in this world, {the coacJi diives on at back R., 
Guard sounding horn. Villagers male and female, appear at either 
side as waiting for 'passengers and parcels. Joe assists Guard in hand- 
ing them down. Good bustling coadi scene?) 
Young Woman. Anythincr for me v 
Man. Have you efot my parcel ? 
Several Voices. And mine! and mine! and mine! 
Guard. Stop a bit ! stop a bit ! I can't serve you all at once. 
Young Woman, Mine's a band-box ! 

Guard. Then here it is. Take care, ray dear, the bottom's nearly 
out \{as he speaks the bottom falls out and a chignon tumbles out with it, 
the GiiiL snatches it from, him, runs off^ amidst a genercd laugh.) Your 
letters Mr. Grice. (business) 

Man. {as Guard lifts a live sucking pig in hamper) That belongs 
to me ! 

Guard. So I should have guessed by the likeness {to Coachman) 
Now then, Bill, put 'em along! {pig hunt — all off, coach drives off Ij., 
Guard playing.) 

Patty, {as ^jAZO'SBY comes down strtge) Oh, my ! If it isn't Captain 

Dudlt^y LMZonby ! wiuu o;» HMrth does lie want at S'. Arven ? Captain 

Laz )NBY is a, tall elegantly dressed man icith a certain " turfy" look in 

the general get up. His dress is irreproachable in cut, but "horsey" in 

character, quit", the higher class sporting man. Grice is stooping to pick 

up mail bag when Lazcnby slaps him on shoidder.) 

Grice. (snappishly) What do you want? (turning, and then in 
great surprise) Ciptain D! (dropping mail bag on table.) 

Lazon, (laughing) I suppose the D himself wouldn't hnve surprised 

you more — not so much p'raps, for wlun old Iriends meet you know 

Grice. Oh ! I say, r'on't ! now don't, Captain. When a man arrives 
at my time o' life, he gets nervous, be.-iides it's quite enough to remind 
one of past sins seeinof you here. 

Lazon. (c. in rapid, aside) Chut ! at your age, the head should be 
longer than the tongue, (turning quickly to 'P \i:ty who has approached. 



10 nobody's child. 

and fakingher chin) Ah! iiiv pre: ty Patty ! have vou found a lovei 

Patty, (l.) Oli ! dear no, tliose sort of things don't grow freely m 
these parts, especially when one hasn't a marriage portion, and 

Lazon. No marriage portion, and you the niece of a CrcEsus? 

Grtce. (r. c.) Croesus ! what's that ? 

Lazon. a millionaire. 

Grice. Me ! nie, a miilionare ! oh, lor! oli, lor. What a world this is ! 
Nothing but caluuiny and detraction. Here! (fuming out pockets) 
Search me ! search me Irom top to toe, and if you find a five shilling 
piece upon me, may I — may you, drop down dead directly. (Joe langhs 
R.) What are you laughing at ? 

Joe. Nothing ! I was only thinking of those birds who fly wide of 
their rests, lest their eggs should be discovered. {moves toward side. 
Lazonby raises one eye glass and looks at liira curiov.sly.) 

Lazon. Why it's Joe ! as eccentric as ever. 

GriCE. He's an idiot, an utter idiot ! but drn't speak any more about 
marriage portions. It makes me ill ! I hate mercenary marriages, and 
any one as marries my niece shan't do it for her money. She's a for- 
tune in lierself {crosses L. C. to Patty) There, o-o alonor into the dairy, 
and send out the milk, {catching dress, andin sharp lohispered aside, as 
she is about to cross l.) And don't forget to put a dash of water in it. 
When I read of what they do in London, it fills my heart with envy. 
{to Jok) What are you about now, sir ? 

JoE. (c.) Nothinnf. 

Grice. (l. quickly) Then you want a job ! when you've carried in 
those packages you can rub down the horses, and put fresh sacks in 
the granary ! there's nothing I hate worse than to see a young t* llov/ 
with his hands in his pockets. 

Joe. {laughs) Yes, but you'd rather that than see me with my hands 
in yours. (Lazonby looks at him again curiously with his eye glass) 

Grice. {gravely) Nobody works for me without a reward. Patty, 
let Joe have the bread I left just now. {as Patty and^ Joe move up 
stage Grice and Lazonby come down) 

Joe. Master Grice always gives me something to do, he never gives 
me anything for it. If it were not for Patty I'd rather be among the 
rocks. {Exit R. 

Grice. (l.) Now Captain what brings you again down here ? 

Lazon. (r.) Money. 

Grice. You couldn't have a more nob'e object. 

Lazon. I've made a bad book, Pet«^r dear, and must hedge. 

Grice. In what direction? 

Lazon. (hand <?w Grice's shoidder) The old one! Miss Tregarvon. 

Grice. {^titJi half a shriek) Money there! wliy the Tregarvon estate 
goes to the hammer the day after to-morrow ! if not disposed of by pri- 
vate purchase. 

Lazon. I know it, and also know that sly cunning old Peter Grice 
means to be the purchaser, Come, come, Peter, there should be no se- 
crets between yon and I. I want your aid. 

Grice. (alarmed) Not in a pecuniary way I hope ? I give you my 
Word, and honour. 

Lazon. I want your aid, and will pay for it. 

Grice. That's business ! 

Lazon. If vox have any scruples 

Grice (testUy) Scruples ! when people get to my age they shouldn't 



ACT I 11 

have any scruples. Scruples iudeed ! scruples is like feelins! I 'atcs 
sucli rubba<ie. 

Lazon. You know that Admiral Tregarvon expressed an intention 
of uiuking' a will in favor of his lieice, Lucy ! 

GiiiCE. After having quarrelled with Sir Robert ! but I know also 
that sucli promises go for nothing when made by a hale hearty man 
with twenty years good life in him. 

Lazon. Right old bird ! Precisely my way of thinking. So when 
Sir K )L»ert toolv to the turf under my guidance — 

Grice. And was ruined. 

Lazon. The one thing implies the other; when that event occurred 
I reluctandy resigned a portionless young lady's heart, and 

(jRlCE. Levanted. 

Lazon. Retired to the continent that we might the easier forget one 
another. / had pretty nearly accomplished tlie dihicult task, when I 
accidentally heard that the Admiral had really executed a will in Miss 
Tregarvon s favour, bc^fore starting on a cruise in his yacht, (cros- 
ses L.) 

Grice. (r.) And where's the Admiral gone to ? 

Lazon. (l. loith twist of icrist, poviting dowmcards with cigar') Down 
among the dead men ! (sings.) 

'^'Down, down among the dead men 
Tliere let him lie 1" 

Grice. {aghast) What ! 

Lazon. (Laughing) DrowncZecZ. 

Grice. {inhrcathtcss surprise) The, the old villain ! at his time of 
life too ! I 'ate such eccentricity I (sinks on bench aside) The scheme cf 
a life destroyed in an hour ! 

Lazon. 1 happened to be in Bayonne at the time the news came ; 
" Storm in the Bay of Biscay, the Petrel, Admiral Tregarvon's yacht, 
foundered. All hands lost." Dreadful occurrence! solemn and natural 
reflection ! I thought of Lucy, dear Lucy ! Packed up my traps and 
started for Cornwall instanter, leaving the Consul at i3ayonne writing 
a letter to Sir Robert. 

Grice. You're a keen blade, captain, that you are — razor-edged, and 
warranted to shave in any climate. 

Lazon. Are you still postmaster here V 

Grice. (still seated as ODercome by neios) And Postman, too. Why'! 

Lazon. Tne letter from the Consul is in that bag (points to mail bag 
on table) it must be mislaid (Grice rises with a jump) till I'm once mor.; 
Lucy Tregarvon's accepted lover, 

Gkice. Tiien ? 

Lazon. (smoking) Do what you like with it. 

Grice. Wliii's my advanta'ze in all this? 

Lazon. Peter, this is not the first time by many we've had transac- 
tions together. So it's rather late in the day to try to persuade me 
you re a fool. For some reasons of your own you wish to bt^come pro- 
prietor of that old ruin up there, (indicating castle in distance) You'll 
never accomplisli that if they yet get the letter. Lucy loves tiie place, 
and through the Admiral's solicitors will have no difficulty in repaying 
the mortgages you bought up. You see, Peter dear, I know all your 
little underground ways, and the nice little game you've been playing 
for the last ten years. 



12 nobody's child. 

GracE. ^reflectimly , and laying hand on bay) You're sure the letter's 
here V 

Lazon. Sure, but oaly tob -. lound Avheu Tregarvoa Castle is yours, 
and. ]Mit>s Lucy mine ! 

GiiiCE. Siie"s euiiaged to younir Penryn of Penryn Court. 

Lazon. (carelessly) So I have learnt. 

GiiiCE. And yc-i you think ? 

Lazon. I m sure, tliere are wheels withia wheels, Peter. Do your 
part wfll, and 111 do mine, [hoj'ns heard at distant) Wiio's ridinj^ 
with the Trejzarvon pack? 

Gr.iCE. Sir Robert and Miss Lucy with some of the gentry. They're 
round by the Hollow. 

Lazon. iyoing up stage) I'll join them. Is it a bargain? 

GmcE. (Jiand on tnail hag) Ic is. Mutual help? 

Lazon. i swear it. (horns sound again) Is, -a l\\<im. (looking off) down 
by tlie ford, Ta! la ! Peter. (^JiJxit U. s. R. 

GmCE. Swear it! Some people's power of swearin's pro-digious. 
There was a friend of mine in the legal line who never spoke a word of 
truth iu his liie, yet boasted he'd kissed the binding off six Bibles. (;U7i- 
strapjnng mail hag) lie must have been a relation of Captain Lazonby. 
(searching for knife) It's forty-live years ago since S.r Robert's fatlier 
liad little Peter Grice wiiipped out of Tregarvou Castle for theft. Il 
was a false charge for I was an honest lad, then. In time, old Sir 
Robert found ( ut his error, sent for me back, placed me in this inn, 
and got me appointed post-master, made me his agent. I soon saw 
how matti-rs were going at the castle. To gain wealth, and to keep 
wealth became the sole purpose of my existence. I denied myself the 
necessaries of life, I scraped, and saved ; they squandered and scat- 
tered, till their purses grew long as their faces; I took up tlieir bunds 
wherever I could find tlieni, and rc-newed them on larger interest. My 
worst blow was when old Sir Robert died — died before I could wiiii-r 
per in his ear, words that would have broutrht him dov.n on his knees, 
pale and trembling, "out of this place — it is mine! Peter Grice, the 
drudge and wiiipping block, is your master now." Tho:^e were the 
words I would have spoken, and now I keii> 'em for the son. (while 
speaking, he has opened hag, and tumbled omr letters) Here's the letter ! 
a legal liand stiff and regular like prelers at drill. ((Z7'«?a;i^6>Mi a /ar^'g 
letter with official seal) Foreign post mark — Bayonne — Seal of tiie 
Consulate. Bother the wax, 1 wonder anyone continues to use it. It 
costs money — gives no extra security, and is the devil's own trouble. 
{as he bends over letter examining seal, Adams, a grizzled old sailor, a 
regular old salt,in ragged pea jacket, blue serge trousers, and battered ail 
skin hat, appears at hack, l. 3 e. looking about him — he iccdks lame as 
foot sore, and is covered icith dust.) 

Adams, [halts at hack, makes a trumpet of his h/inds, and shoutS) 
Ahoy (GuiCE in much confusion thrusts letter in pocket, and hegiih-i 
wit/wut turning to hastily re-strap mail bag— coming wearily down) 
^V hen .you've ovehauled that h tter, mate, p'mps you'll answer sijiinal^. 
Where am I? 

Grice. Out of your road. You'll find the stocks on the village 
green, and the cage is close beside 'em. 

Adams. You're a nice complimentary son of a sea cook, you are ! 
I've only seen another such a figger head as yours, and tliat was on 
the prow of a Dutch fishing smack, and as it frightened all the fish 



ACT I. 1^ 

away, it ruined the owners, (seats Jiimself, and strikes table witli fist) 
Rum ! 

Grice. Glass ? 

Adams. Bo.tle! do you take me for a baby ? Drink, drowns care, 
as the ocean drowns a pebble. 

Grice. But it rolls the pebble up again, not a bit the worse for drown, 
ing, only a little smoother and rounder. 

{Mcit into inn r. ' 

Adams. I've finished one bottle to-day, and should have finished tw>.i 
afore this, but it's difficult sailing in these parts, and requires cautious 
steering. 

Grice. {re-entering — putting lottle on table) Rum ! {pulling jug) 
Water? 

Adams, {seizes jug) Say that again, and I'll shy it at you {fills glass 
with rum) A fellow that's been floating on a spar for twenty-four hourn 
in the Bay of Biscay has had enough of water for one while. What 
place is this ? 

Grice. St. Arven. 

Adams. And that? {pointing to the castle in distance.) 

Grice. Tn^yarvon casile. 

Adams, (jumping up) Hoorah ! port at Inst ! 

Grice. {as struck with a sudden suspicion) Where do you* come 
from ? 

Adams. Come from ? The jaws of death, that's where I comes from, 
old weasle mug. The only man saved out of twenty-seven. The ad- 
miral and I hung on to a spar till he giv' in, and went down plump 
like the lead line, took his soundings but never come up again, (fills 
glass and drinks) I'd half a mind to foller him , but keep afloat, yer 
varmint, ses he, and carry out my orders ! 

Grice. You can't mean admiral Tregarvon? 

Adams. I can't mean nobody else. It i5-n't much more than a couple of 
days since I see him a.s plain a-i I see you. No, not so plain ns I see 
you lor a Auiilier mug than yours, I never clapped my two blessed 
eyes on. 

Grice. Now leave off complimenting me, and give a plain answer to 
a ])lain question. Is it Admiral Tre-garvon you're speaking o? 

Adams. W ho else would ha' thought of others at such a time ? {drinks 
and icipes eyes icith sleeve) Bless him ! how he used to drink and swear 
It won id ha' done your eyes good to ha' heard and seen him. 

Grice. (glances round in a furtive manner, seats himself , and speaks 
eagerly) And so you escaped safely ? But first my noble fellow take 
anot lier glass. iiiUs and Adams drinks.) 

Adams. Ti.ank'ee, 1 caught a dreadful thirst when I was a child 
and it's been a serlnus complaint with me ever since {drinks, tearfully 
I was his coxswain — friend, he used to call me! bless him, wlun he 
was drunk, "Jack Adams," sez he " you are a drunken beast, and as its 
your natur, will continue to be so." "Admiral," sez I, hanging on 
to this 'ere plank is enough to cure any man of bein' a, teetotaller, ' 
"Jack," sez lie, '' you was never born to be drownded. Water will 
never enter your stomack. This contains my last will and Testamer; . 
Place it in the hands of my neice Miss Lucy TreL-arvon." The)\ Ik^ 
places in my hands this tin ca^e. {opens Jacket and shoics case fastened 
hy lanyard aronnd neck.) 

Grice. (halj rising) That contains Admiral Tregarvon 's will? 

Adams. And his testament! though ho^ begot it iuio such a sujull 



14 nobody's child. 

compass passes my umk-istniiriin;:. {as OmcE stretches out Ms hand as to 
examine it, Adams draics back) Avast ti.ere, I've got my orders, uo 
hiuid touclies it but Mi>s Lucy Tietrarvon's. (iHsing) Which is tlio 
■rfliortest road to the castle ? {lightning low thunder.) 

GmCE. {rising also) Better stay, .i storm's coming on. {loic thun- 
der heard.) 

Adams. Don't talk to mo about a cap full of wind. Which is the 
shortest road ? 

Grice. That {he points to imth at hack among rocks Ij.) It is ilmshort- 
'est. {wipes forehead hastily, and speaks in troubled aside) And most 
dang'erous. He didn't ask me tliat ! 

Adams, {attable preparing to go up stage) What's to pay? 

Grice. {much troubled, and icith nervous hesitation) Nothing ! 

Adams. Nothing ! Do you take me lor a tramp ? Don't come the lib- 
erality dodge over me with your cliarity oily tu^ypence. (throwing down 
coin) Pay yourself ! I don't like your looks,and I uon't want your change. 
That's the shortest course. 

Grice. Yes. [as the sailor moves vp stage, Grice whose manner is 
marked by an increasing perturbation grasps his coat) Stop ! stop ! I 
forgot, to tell you tliere's another road ! 

Adams. A shorter one? 

Grice. Mucii longer, but 

Adams, {who is intoxicated) Then this is the track for me. 

Grice. {touching bottle) Here another glass ? 

Adams, {making as again about to come down stage, then stopping 
with €(, lurch) No I dooty afore pleasure. I'll not get drunk till I've 
placed this (touching case) in the hands of Miss Tregarvon. {sings in 
drunken fashion as he ascends ptath 'L. 

Three times round went our galliant ship, 

And ihree times round went she-e 
Three times round went our galliant ship 
Tlien sunk into the bottom ot the sea-e ! 

{During the conversation between Grice and Adams, « storm has been 
threatening. Gauzes to be arranged as to give the appearance of a sea fog 
rising, and obliterating by slow degrees objects at a distance. As the 
sailor, icith staggering steps and still chanting his song,is seen moving up 
'path among rocks, his figure becoming more and more indistinct.) 

Grice. {up stage tcatching sailor) He'll have to cross the ravine ! 
well, that's not my affair. Oofiiiiate men will have their way. I can't 
help accidents ! 

(Joe) appears at side 'R.,lumhering hearily cdong uith truss of straw on 

shoulders. 

Joe. {doicn stage, and without seeing Grice, also sees the figure oj 
sailor as it is disappearing in the fog) Hilloh ! Come bjick tin re! c >inc 
back ! do you hear ! {He casts down truss leaving 2)ortions of strawin Ids 
unkempt hcvir, gimng Jiim a still more wild Caliban appearance^ and in 
rushing up stage, ichen lie is met by Grice.) 

Grice. Joe ! Joe.! you're just the man I've been looking for {hold- 
ing him) I've got a message lor you to take into Ihe next village and 
you shall have a glass of rum before you start ! {pulling 1dm towards 
table) Eh I Joe ! {aside) T'other one paid for the bottle, {cdoud) One 
must be generous sometimes you know. 

Joe. {pointing up) But the man. 



ACT I. 15 

GricE. What man ? Vv'liiit an iJiot yoii are, Joe ! 
ocK. {druggliiig to rid himself of Grice's grasp) Tiio man yonder 
who is t.iRiii;^' liie paih to iiie cas;le over the locks. It's daiifrerous at 
any tiun' ; is deal li ihrouirh a mist like this! (lights gradually tip) 
Lft me go ! {lie throics (J rice oif so rougldy that he falls over table vp- 
settiiig hottle, and is rushing up stage iclieii a portion of liurd, shippers 
in, tt'c, &c., some surging on behind r., cracking of whips, dc. Joe 
rushes against Limping Dick, a icJiippcr-in icho sends him back icith a 
slash of his whip.) 

Dick. (l. C.) Now then stoopid, whose cart are you running intoV 
Joe. It's lite and death, let uie pass, {they stop him exxry way, flick- 
ing at him with their whip lashes) 

All. It's Joe ! mad J(je ! Nobody's Child ! 

Dick. Yoick ! tally l.o! found lox ! {they all surrouiuX 5 o^ cracking 
icliips as he tries to make for himself a passage, and laughing and jeer- 
ing. With an impetuous movement he lorenches whip from Dick.) 

Joe. {fiercely) Would you treat me like a be;ist of the field, (icifh 
change of manner) Yetwiiynot? I'm hss than they ! A brute wi h 
a mind lor whom no one cares ! {casts wMj) on ground) A mind ! {thiy 
all laugh) Laugh away ! lauoh away ! I can bear, I can bear ! {uitJi sud- 
den revulsion of feeling, he lets his head fall on his breast, and cover- 
ing his face with his hands bursts into tears.) 
One of the men. Put 'un in the ])ound. 

Dick. Put him in tiie poud. (they all shout and gather round Joe, 
icith evident intention of treating Jdm rougldy, ichen Miss Tregaryon 
enters at side r., ichile at the same moment Captain Lazonby, ISiii Rob- 
ert Tregaryon ami George Penryn, appea.r at back, r., the tuo last 
in hunting costume.) 

Lucy. You cowards ! so many upon one poor fellow ! and one who of- 
fers no defence, {scattering them icith her whip) I wish my arm had a 
man's strength for your sakes ! 

Sir R. {clapping hands) Bravo ! Lucy, a fitting correction well ad- 
ministered ! {as the Gentlemen co^nc doicn stage, the whipper , in, &c., 
fall back and sneak off.) 

Pknryn. {laughing) Lucy has taken Jo(> under her special care. He's 
\\t'V protege — so lnu^t also be mine. 

Lazonby, who has p)aused up stage to whisper some words to the whip- 
per-in, Limping Dick, with ichom he seems to have an understanding^ 
comes doicn stage.) 

Lazon {raising hat) It Miss Tregarvon has not forgotten an old friend 
may 1 hope for a word of welcome? 

Lucy, {starts, turns, and drops riding whip) Captain Lazonby ! 
Lazon. {as Sir Robert ccnd Penryn sjyeak aside) Mny I liope the 
surprise is a pleasant one ? (picks up whip and returns it uith a, bow.) 

Lucy, (in quick, scornful, aside) li is not a pleasimL one ? {as she turns 
airay, l., she comes face to face with Joe, who has crept aivkardly, and 
timidly to her side — l. c.) Ah ! my poor Joe ! What do you want ? 
JoE. (L.) I would thank you. Miss Lucy, if I knew how — 
Lucy. There's no occasion for thanks, Joe — though, by the way, I 

missed my bouquet of flowers this morning 

Patty, (who has come from deary l., and approached Lucy) It's be- 
because the bridge over the ravine was swept away by the torrent last 
night, and the flowers grow {ar down among the rocks. 

Lucy, (turning in surprise to Joe) And you run such peril to gratify 
a foolish fancy ? Now that I know the risk, you must bring me no 



16 NOBODY'S CHILD. 

more such flow;;rs. (sJie tosses Joe a piece of money wliich falls unJiecdcl 
to Ills feet— then, goes up stag,', talking to Patty. Patty leaves her. and 
Lazoxby again joins her. She appears to be listening to him impatient- 
ly. CI ante r of Spoktsm^.n on opposite side to dress scene, gauzes now 
shut in back of scenes ; they are irradiated fitfully by lightning, and 
the distant, very distant, rumble of thunder is heard.) 

Joe. {aside, down stage) No moie sucii liowers ! ah! yes, it's oiil,- 
sucli fiowtn's she s lall liave fr.)m poor Joe! {looking back at gathering 
storm) There's roiitfU weather brewing, {with exultation) Fin off to lu ^ 
ravine! Sue'll value th-nn more p'raps, now she knows that each linv 
tl )vver was plucked at the risk of a life ! {he is 7noving up stage fwLue Y 
comes hurriedly down, followed by Lazonby.) 

Lucy. (l. c. , in agitated voice, ocerheard by Jok) Captain Luzwnhy 
you have my answer — " No !" 

L.\zo]sr. (li., with half sneer) A woman's nay dotli stand for nang-i;t. 
Tuis evening at th;} Fairy's Well, 1 shall expect you. 

Lucy. I will not come. 

Lazon. {smiling) You will, {with change of tone to one of sharp 
mena"/3, at the, sam'^ time looking round quickly, but itithout seeing Joi-: 
loh'j han dra/vn bai'k into porch, he 'places hand for a moment on Lucy tj 
arm) You must! {he steps back apace then follows her uj) stage ]-., 
2oh"re Hui Robeiit and the rest are standing.) 

Joe. {oniing down porch) Must! wiiat could that mnn mean ly 
must? S le se.Mn '..i afraid of him — she! If I tliou^iht {lie raises both 
arms wlt'i a gesture of menace as he glances towards I^azoxcy wJio noio 
stands group 'd with others up stage ; but, the fierce light dien out of Ms 
face and h'i lets his clenched hands sink with a self-disdainful laugh) 
Tliuik ! as if a miseraole vv lif liiie uie had any (all t<» Hunk of anv- 
thinir {as he utters the last words, the head droops a.s before, and the old 
desolate lost look comes back. He slouches forward a feto paces, then his 
eyes rest up)n th'. piece of money still lying on the ground. He stoops 
instinctively to pick it up,then stops suddenly) Alm.~! and from her ! {lie 
draws away, but, as mooed by another tlwught, snatches it up) I shall 
die of coll and nunger one of these days ami tJds shall be placed in my 
coffin, {he kisses it) Ah! if they did but know how often dearer to 
the poor man's heart, than the g^ift itself is the smile that accomiuuiies 
it. Now for t'le ravine, {/legoes quickly np stage, and plunges into the 
mist and in his wild Imlf animal way appears among the rocks). 

Ithice. Joel Joe! wiier 'rf the fool (:<tintr to? {runs 71]) but is stop- 
ped as blinded by a flush of lightning, tchat a flash !) Joe ! {as he does 
so. there is a vivid flas'i of lightning followed by a loud peal of thunder. 
The hunting party divide into groups and ru^h to Itouse, dr., for shelter. 
J^oise as offaJMng rain.) I shouldn't wonder but ht-'s gfone afi'-r tiie 
siiior! officious idiot! (at same moment io'E.re-apjJears springing from 
rock at back.) Joe. {in wild alarm) Deao ! Deaii ! 

(tfiice [whose arm he has grasped) Dead ! Who ! 

Jo:i. The man ! tiie sailor! (Gkice shakes him of ) They found his 
bo l»- half down the ravine ! Look, look ! 

Grice. I ook where ? 

Joe. There ! {as he speaks the fog lifts soynewhat and a picturesque 
group of jisJier men is see/i descending path, ainong rocks carrying the body of 
M).\yis the sailor. The fiisher men pause at back, the ligJitning irradiating group. 
Peteu Grice, 7us arm still grasped by Jok, who points iviih look of horror vp 
Stage, averts face. The othtr characters group and form Tableau as curtain 
descends rapidly amidst a vrolonged peal of thunder. 

END OF ACT ONE. 



ACT II. 17 

A C T I I. 

SCENE. — TJie Fairy Well. A pretty hit of Cornish scenery. The Fairy 

Well built upon stage. A broken bit of beauty, crumbling stones, &c., 

&c.. The loell, arched ooer by creejAng plants, and surrounded by 

ferns, so managed that it can be drawn of at the change of sce7ie. 

The sea, icith glimpses of rocky coast in the distance. Captain Lazon- 
'' BY is seated on the ruined coping of the well, smoking. JS'car him 

stands J^imfing Dick, the whipper in R. 

JjAZON. So Dick you find the air of Cornwall agrees wiili you? 

Dick. Well, I'm pretty bobbish, Thank'ee, Captain, but niijrht be 
moie Ijobbisher perhaps if it wasn't for a little nervous feeling eveiy 
time the coacli comes in. 

Lazon. (laugliing) Tiiat infernal racing business. 

Dick. Don't, don't, my noble Captain, it's like dropping a door 
key down one's back. 

Lazon. (c.) A ])rison door key, eh ? You want money ? 

Dick, (r.) Don't I want, mont'v ! Oh, no ! {icith juggler like dexteri- 
ty he turns out the linings of Ids two empty pockets) Not a soluntary 
individual mag! and I'm borry to say I've mislaid my cheque book. 

Lazou. I'll find you one, and fill it in with a good round sum too. 
Listen to me ! 

Dick. Ree-ligionsly. 

Lazon. You know why T placed you in Sir Robert's servic;;? 

Dick, {touching Ids cap) To be your werry obedient, humble servant. 

Lazon. Ai.d wouldn't, you hedge if you could, eh, Dick ? 

Dick. 'Twouldn t be any use tryin', I can ride a race wi' most ; but 
lawks, afore I'd made a start you'd be in at the winnin' post ; besides 
I've some gratitude. 

Lazon. {with iceary contempt) Don't, Dick ; don't ! 

Dick. I was pretty nigh starving when yon como across me. It's 
hard lines I can tell you to be out of collar, and on'y a few ha'pence to 
keep siummick and back from jinning together like two flaps of a port- 
folio. 

Lazon. {carelessly) Were you as bad off as that ? 

Dick {brushing his liands across his eyes) I can't bear to think of it. 
You took piiy on me, and giv' me a wriittn k'racter, a good 'un ! 

Lazon. {lavgJdng) We are always ready to give away what's not 
our own. {rises and comes doion) 

Dick, {admiringly) A beautifully written k'racter ! I've got it 
now. 

Lazon. (l.) Tlie only good one you'll ever be able to keep. But busi- 
ness at present, if you please, {they come forward) Miss Tregarvon's 
marriage with this young Cornish squire i^ settleil, you say? 

Dick, (r.) To come off afore Sir Robert ree-tires to the continunt. 

Lazon. Not if I know it, Dick, {knocks ash off cigar) When a fellow 
who lias faUen ccsperately in love 

Dick. (asto7iished) You ! {smites Ids knees with a laugh) Axin' your 
pardin, CaptJiin, but that's coming it a hetle too sir> ng ! tisn't you : s 
would go, and risk your all upon one '< ss aj^in the field. 

Lazon. You don't let me finish, you ill-mannered rascal, (speaking 
very deliberately) 1 said Avhen a fellow had fallen desperately in 1 vo 
{gesture of intense disgust on part of Dick) with a large fortune — {Jiea- 
•ny sigh of relief from Dick) bed run every risk before he'd resign tlie 
object oi his attachment. 



18 nobody's child. 

Dick. Tliat'ri what I calls straight bowlin', you hits the wicket, and 
no mistake. 

Lazon. {laugliing) Love without money — bosh, eh, Dick ? Love of 
money, that's tlie only lasting love to which we become more constant 
as we grow older. Now have you thought over what I asked you? 

Dick. 0' course ! 

LazoN. And will assist me ? 

Dick. O' course ! I've a plan a'ready I 

Lazon. (eagerly) Out with it ! 

Dick. It's a danijerous one 

Lazoi:^. You know the state of my finances — I need say no more. 
{sits.) 

Dick, {drawing nearer to Lazoi^by, iclio Tias reseated himself on cop- 
ing of loell) Fust, as you directed, I've contrived that some of the St. 
Arveu folk shall see Miss Tre^arvon when she comes away irom thia 
ready woo — that is if slie keep it. 

Lazon. {impatiently) She will ! 

Dick, {grinning Tliey're rare talkers at St. Arven — on'y once start 
the game an' they'll run it to death. Now George Penryn, Eskervier, 
is one of your upright, stitf-back coves as go in for fam'ly honour, an' 
sich like? trifles. 

Lazon. {yawning) \^'e all have our weaknesses! spur on, Dick. 

Dick. And I'll take care that when St. Arven begins to talk, it shall 
talk loud enough to reach him. 

Lazon. Bravo ! In these enlightened days the people should have 
a voico in everything. 

Dick. Next, I've been a studying the gee-o-grafiy of the castle. lu 
consequence of the old place being turned topsy-turvy, Miss Tregar- 
von's private apartments is in the west tower. 

Lazon. I know it. 

Dick. Tuere's a sort of iron balcony afbre the winder — and what 
with the ivy, and what with the stone work — 

Lazon. Can be reached as easily as with a ladder, {reflectively) Bat 
the tower has two windows. 

Dick. It 'ave. T'other one looks out upon the- sea — a fall of ninety 
feet — don't try it. 

Lazon. {dryly) Thank you. 

Dick You mounts by the ivy, as easy as a squirrel — conceals your- 
self in Mrs. Lazoaby's, as is to he's, private apartment, an' A\e mo- 
ment she ree-tires to rest, your humble servant sets up a cry of thieves 
—open goes the door— and there you are, confused, of course, and only 
hanxious to purtect the reputation of the lady 

Lazon. But if the brother rides rough, eh ? 

Dick. Let 'un ! Folks don't figlit dools now-a-days. 

Lazox. {laughing— rises) That's true! The only actions we go into 
now are aciious at law. nnd then we come out much more damaged. 

Dick. The things to avoid is the noose-papers, hanythink to keep it 
out o' them — so yon does the honourable, naarries the young lady, and 
. tips your faithful Dick ansome for Ids services. 

Lazon. {giving a note) A capital plan, there's something on account. 
(poking off) Be off! I think I see Miss Tregarvon. Diek, we shall beat 
them. 

Dick, {touching f&rehead.) By a head. {Exit R.— Lazonby rises from 
his seed on edge of well, as he does so, the rough, unslwrn head of Joe is 



ACT II. 19 

lifted from behind icell — as Joe leans Ids arm upon the crumbling stones 
some fixigments fall into the well icith a splash. Lazonby turns, but not 
before J oi^ has dropped down— and during this Job h((S crawled to the 
other side of the well, where he remains listening eagerly, partly seen by 
audicnrx.) 

Lazon. a dangerous seat! She's here, {goes up — then, as Miss 
Tkegarvon enters l.) Ha, Lucy ! Miss Tregarvon. {raises hat) I was 
sure you had too much kindness of heart to reluse a despairing lover 
just one more meeting. 

Lucy, {cold hauteur, l.) You hold certain letters of mine 

Lazon. Without date— fortunately. 

Lucy. Written to you by an inexperienced girl. 

Lazon. Just so. Only inexperienced girls ever write such letters. 
Experienced girls write under Jidvice of iheir solicitor. 

Lucy, {indignant) Captain Lazonby ! I sill believe you would 
have S07ne claim to ilie title of gentleman. 

Lazon. My dear Lucy, {raising hat) I beg your pardon, Miss Tre- 
garvon, gentleman is one of the most elastic words in our language; 
like charity it covers a multitude of sins. If a man eats well — I 
mean, of course, expensively, dresses well, at the expense, possibly, of 
liis tailor, and repudiates everybody who lives by honest industry, the 
world has given him hitherto an undisputed right to tlie title you men- 
tion, {icith change of manner) Lucy, I'm in love! 

Lucy, {loith contempt) You ! 

Lazon. And love excuses all thinj-s. 

Lucy, {advancing towards him) Wi.jit use wiaikl you make of those 
letters — tliose foolisli, innocent tetters? 

Lazon. {very cooly) Ha ! there again pops out the inexperience. 
No hing is more misconstrued in this sinful world than the utterings 
of innocence — on paper. Of course, I can have no doubt, but these 
letters undated, when placed in the hands of Mr. Penryn 

Lucy, {passionately) Would you dare 

Lazon. {gaily) Anything! rather than lose you. {with change of 
manner, as she draics back from him with movement of contempt — lie 
lays his hand upon her arm, and looAs fxedly in her face. At same mo- 
ment, Joe half Hses from behind icall of well, and with hands raised 
crouches back like some fierce animal about to spring) Take care, Lucy 
Tregarvon ! you i ave yet to learn ichat I dare do. (Lucy crosses L.) In 
one of your letters {toucJiing breast pocket of coat) I cany them about 
with me — you propo>e an eh^pement 

Lucy. A girl's letter, v/ritten from a boarding school. 

Lazon. You will have some difficulty in proving that to George Pen- 
ryn. 

Lucy. My brother is 

Lazon. In my deLt ; I hold, that is, some friends of mme hold bills 
of Lis 

Lucy, {contemptuously) D bts of honor you call them ! 

Lazon. Well secured, as debts of honour should be ; your brother is 
about, to leave England. A wi rd of mine and he exclumges Tregarvon 
Cattle for a prison \ 

Lucy. And you have called him " Friend !" 

Lazon. Don't ! oh ! don't ! you must really forget the boarding 
school, and give words other than their dictionary meaning. " Friena" 
a person who backs a bill — the other person — the friend who sells him 
up — that's the new and correct reading. 



20 itobody's child. 

Lucy, {sadly) I recognise your power, aud ask 

LiAZON. {eagerly) Wual ? 

Lucy, {ramng head, and loolcing him in the face) Your price ? 

Lazox. Your iiaud. (Joe again slowly sinks behind icall of well.) 

Lazon. Y<m loved lue once, Lucy i'regarvon. (LuCY averts herfacs 
drawing hack a step, as he endeavours to take her hand) Your leiteia 
(again touching breast pocket.) confess it. Your brother is a ruined luaa 
you are, pardon uie, penniless ; but the heart — tlie heart knows no sucli 
selfisli calculation, and I, hearing ot your misiortune, hastened my re- 
turn to renew my suit. 

Lucy, (softened) Captain Lazonby, forget ag I do the folly of a child, 
I never loved — i never can love you. 

Lazon. Lucy! 

Lucy. Do wiiat you will — you have my answer. 

Lazon. (r.) Refiect ! your name is in my liands — you know youngf 
Peurvii's pride, (he laughs) The wife of Caesar must not even be suspect- 
ed, {he again lays his hand upon her arm as she is passing Mm, and 
speaks with sudden change of manner) 1 give you this niglit for retiec- 
uoa. To-aionow you cons nt to be my wild, (she tears her sleeve from 
him, and passes a little up stage to side) or I myself will see Greorge Pen- 
ryn — (he is following her — she stops him wUh a gesture of disdain) — Aud 
consuumuite the ruin of the Tregarvons. 

Lucy, (proudly) Do not follow me, do not dare to follow me another 
step. It is a desperate game you play. Captain Lazonby, as she goes L.) 
And, 1 confess, I have not a friend to advise me in this exireuiiiy — 
a friend in tae world. {Exit LuCY, L., as she speaks, tlie dark figure of 
Joe m seen to risr, and stands motionless as a statue — his eyes, whic\ 
gleam from beneath his uncombed Jiair icatching Lazonby's every mo- 
ment.) 

Lazon. {looking after her) It is a desperate game I play. Lucy 
Tregarvon. but I will bead your proud spirit to the dust, and the Imnd 
you now despise to-morrow you shall sue for on your knees, (raising 
clenched hands with scowl of menace) Ay, my lady, you shall be broken 
to harness yet, and I'll ie;ich you the meaning of the e^ntiffle and the 
curb. {He f.i'its r. «.s he does s) Joe ■m'^ves a pace or two forward) 

Joe. (as one in a dream) Not a friend ! Yes those were her words, 
" Not a friend in the world !" and she so beautiful and young. (He seats 
himself on coping oficell. and places Jiis elbow on his knee, rests his chin 
in hand, while with a stick lie Jiolds in other hand he appears to be absent- 
ly tracing characters in the dust) It's hard to be without a friend (shak- 
ing head slowly) very iiard. 

GiucE. {heard coughing off stage Tj. — he comes shuffling on, he has his 
letter-bag slung round him., as Tillage postman— he is in great state of 
agitation as overcome with the heaty and without seeing Joe) Oli, lorl 
oh, lor ! oh, lor 1 Wiiat a state of mind I'lu in. To think that I should 
have lost the letter fr' an the consul at Bayonne, announcing Admiral 
Tregarvon 8 death. (JoE looks up with a start) The captain told me to, 
mislay it, and I've done so with a vengeance. Oh, lor ! oh, lor! every- 
thing seems to have gone wrong to-day. At my time of life, too, win n 
I ought to be spared such a<jgravations. And that sailor ! What a turn 
it giive me, when those officious fools brouirht in the body. My heart 
was in my mouh (smacking lips as if tasting something nasty) it I'elt 
like a stone. I made sure tliey'd got tlie tin case with Miss Tregarvon's 
fortune in it. (Joe listens eagerly) It wasn't there, though. The string 
must have broke when the drunken fool fell, and so the admiral's will 
is now at the bottom of the ravine. I must have it! I must — that will 
once destroyed, and the admiral's fortune go<i8 to another branch of 
the family, while I — 1 old Peter Grice, the drudge, the menial turn 



ACT II. 21 

out the proud Tregarvon's — ho! ho ! ho! I wish old Sir Robert was 
alive to see it. 1 shall sell clever Captain Lazonby too. He'll marry 
Miss Lucy for her money — her muiiey ! ho ! ho ! ho ! iind come in at 
the wront,'- side of the post, (laughs again and then dops abrupUy) But 
how to get down the ravine V 1 shudiur ail over when 1 tiiinii of it! 
Another aggravation. Why wasn't Patty a boy? Id have sent her 
down without a moment's hesitation. 1 ought to be spared such risks. 
I'll get a lantern and rope at tlie castle, that lecallsthe missing letter! 
Oh, lor ! OM, lor ! at my time of life loo. {Exit GmCE, R. 

Joe. {springing from seat, coming foricard) The letter! this is it 
{drayying a Utter from his pocket) 1 found it behind a loose board in 
the granary, {looking at it curiously) It must be addressed to Miss 
Tregarvon, then. Ah, if I could but read. It was but yesterday I 
stood by the village school listening to the busy hum of voices, and 
envied— oh, with such an aching heart — the lucky ones who weie al- 
lowed to cross its thresliold I Ah ! if I could but read! 

Patty, {off stage ii., singing) Tra ! la! la! la! &c. 

Joe. (briglitening) Ah! here comes Patty Lavrock, she can do every- 
tliing. (Patty enters R. very gaily itith pitcher, and runs against Joe, 
who has advanced to meet her. She gives a slight scream then laughs.) 

Patty. What, Joe, are yon litre — uieanung as usual? Well, as 
you are here, he p me to fill my pitcher. Si op, don't be i a hurry. 
Come and sit down here, and let's talk a bit. (JoE, uho has been 
glancing in a nei'wus and uncertain manner at letter, pushes it in his 
pocket as he moves Uj) stage - sits.) Why are you always so miserable? 
{sitting by Joe on his u.) 

Joe. 1 m not miserable, at least when I'm near you, Patty. 
Patty. Then why do you look so ? Looks are everything in this 
world. You think too little of yourself. 

Joe. {mt/i a sad smile) Little? 

Patty, {impatiently) Nothing then. 

Joe. (c.) And 1 am nothing ! Nobody's Child, a creature without a 
soul, I sometimes believe — a body without a mind. 

Patty, (r.) Oh! Joe! I've heard you talk beautiful sometimes ! 
about the sea, and the stars, and the rocks, and those wild sea birds 
you love so much. 

Joe. {animating) Ah 1 yes ! I love them well ! the sea bii-d is the 
only living thing I seem to have a kindred wiiii. It's first cradle is 
the furrow of the wave — it's lullaby the howl of the storm, and it's 
scream is heard the loudest over the drifting wreck, {uith change to a 
softer tone) I love the fields too, and the blossoming lit nges that scat- 
ter their fiowers and perfume to all alike. I've 1 eard it said, too. 
Patty, that the glistening stars are worhis, and often, ss I sit among 
the rocks watching them, I wonder whether $ midst their brightness 
exist the nenflect and misery we see on earth. 

Patty, {icarmly) Men are what they make themselves, JoE. To 
think yourself an outcast is to become one. Why let people treat you 
as they do ? {rises) 

Joe. {carelessly rising) Wliy not ? 

Patty, {still more indignantly) They call you idiot ! you who can 
talk better than any of them — and coward ! you who only last week 
saved widow Primrose's little boy when the mad dog attacked him ! 
you who cauofht the brute by the throat, and strangled it when every 
one else stood trembling by. 

Joe. (l., very quietly) Yes, I did that. 

Patty, (r.) Coward indeed ! Didn't you swim to the Spanish brig 
when she was founderinir, and not another man dared quit the beach? 
No, Joe : I've watched you now for a long time. You've been so ac- 



22 NOCODV'S CHILD. 

customed to be put down, to be scorned, and insulted, that you've 
grown to think yourself even worse than they call you. 

Joe. You're one of those, Patty, who think well of everybody, be- 
cause everybody must think well of you. I'rn not such a lool but I 
know my value. Oh, yes, I'm good, I m <j;ood for nothing, thai's what 
1 aai. 

Patty, {losing her temper) If you keep on saying that I'll box your 
^ears, Joe ! You don't ni;ike enough of yourself, that's what it is. 

Joe. lolio has seated himself at her feet, takes her hand gratefully) 
You're au angel, Patty, {he kisses her hand) isnd wish lo make this 
earrh like the Heaveu you liave lelt. 

PATrr. {coquettishly) Have done, Jo j ! or I'll think you're making 
love to me. 

Joa. {with a shrinking timidity and half rising) I ? I'm sure I 
njver laeaiu lo iusult you, Patiy. I wouldn't for ilie world. 

Patty, {quickly) I for_ive you — there! {giving liand again) Bui 
come III s )on show you that I'm in earnest, kntel down and don't 
move. You've no idea, Joe, liow much can be efi'ected by a pair of 
scissor.^, {sh'i makes him kneel down, Patty sits on the icall of loell, 
2o\ile Joe kmjls before her, and rapidly cuts off icith the scissor's hang- 
ing to her w.dst. the long matted locks of hair that cover Joe's forehead 
and eyes, m ikinj a thorough metamorphosis, she tedks ichile she does so) 
Tiiere ! didu'. I always say you had tine eyes? though you needn't 
use them iu tha: way, master Joe ! and a forehead, superb ! A man 
should look like a man, and not like a bear ! Now, don't be in a hurry, 
I've not finished yet! {arranges hair icith comb, then twists a gay co- 
loured 'kirehief iDhich she lojars. round Ids neck. Tlte change in appedr- 
an'ie must be rapid but very startling.) Now, master Joe ! stand up, not 
like thar, ! hold your head up, and throw your shoulders back — mere — 
still more! (Joe obeys half laughing) There, (both rise, Patty claps 
h3r hands, and dances round him overjoyed with her icork, L.) Wliy 
you're as hau Isoine a fellow as any of those who laugh at yoa. 

Joe. {witJi his old bashfulness, e. ) You're mocking me 1 but mock 
away, I 'in used to that ! 

Patty. If you want a looking glass, pe^p into the Fairy's Well, and 
you'll see a fairy change, I warrant you I {urged by Patty', Joe bends 
oosr the icell — Ila looks down at his reflection, then turns sharply round 
as djuhting his own face, and expecting to see somebody behind — He 
passes his hand with a hesitating, umertain movement over Ids face, then 
leans Oder the loell again icith a long searcldng, penetrating gaze) Come ! 
y )U ve been long enough at t.;e looking-glass. What do you think of 
yourse f ? 

Joe. {speaking very slowly) I'm not quite so bad after all ; I'm 
s:raighter than Lim, iug Dick, and have better eyes than the butcher 
ar, the corner, and you know the eyes lie makes at you, Patty.' {he 
leans again over well, then exclaims with a burst) Why hang me ! if I 
don't think I'm better looking than the beadle ! 

Patty, {laughing) I never doubted it. Now fill my pitcher, and I'm 
off. 

Joe. {as suddenly recollecting something) And the letter ! what a sel- 
fish brute 1 am ! and she so unhappy ! 

Patty, {sharply) She/ who do you mean's unhappy? 

Joe. {jyroducing letter) Whosi-'s name's on this letter? 

Patty, {ctbout to take letter) The seal's broken ! 

Joe. It's as I found it. The contents are safe enough from me — I 
can't read. 

Patty, {with burst of feeling) But you shall read ! for I'll teach you 



\ 



ACT II. 23 

myself ! This letter is addressed to Miss Tregarvon ! I'll give it to my 

uncle, and he'll take it to the castle. 
Joe. {with quick alann) No he won't ! 
Patty. Wiiy not? 
Joe. I found that letter hidden in the granary. It was hidden there 

by your uncle. 
Patty, {shochcd) Oh, 5 oe\ 

I Joe. It announces the death of Admiral Tregarvon. 

j Patty. How do you know that ? 

] Jos, From your uncle himself — say nothing to anybody — give Miss 

Treoarvon that letter, and leave the rest to me. 
Patty, {doubtfully, but kindly) To you, Joe ? 
Joe, {taking her hand and pressing it to his lips, as they pass out) 

Yes, to the MAN you have made ! {ExeuntTi. 

SCENE SECOND.— 27^*3 Ravine. Rocks heaped vp on every side in 
savage confusion. At hack a precipice, over the edge of ivhich a soli- 
tary tree is groicing from a heap of rock,, stretching its arms in a weird- 
like manner over the chasm. The moon, which has been gradually 
rising, towards the conclusion of the preceding scene, now floods {but at 
intervcds only) the Ravine idth its light. At other times large black 
clouds sweep across it, throidng the stage into shadow. The ichole get 
up to have a Scdvator Rosa-like character — a sort of terrible wildness. 
In the extreme distance is Tregarvon Castle. Fishermen, &c., are de- 
scending path among rocks, n.-with ^Aewi, Limping J)iCK~as they come 
down,a flight of Cornish choughs, or crows, rise from the precipice at back 
and icing heavily away, tiome of the men pick up stones to throiv after 
them, but are checked 6^ John Pornice an old fisherman. 
PoiiNiC, Let 'un be! let 'un be! They've been disappointed of a 

meal to-day, and it's ill-luck to throw stones at a hungry ciow. 
Dick. Was it hereabouts they found the body of the sailor ? 
PoRNlC, It was I who found 'un, on a spur of rock a dozen yards 

only down the chasm. I guessed something wur theer by thescrt-am- 

ingofthe birds. He wur hanging head downwards, cauoht by his 

jacket, (Joe. with the spring of yi chamois, is seen leaping down the rocky 

path) 

Dick. (;1.) You was speakin' o" the Tregarvons j ust now Mr. T'ornice ? 
POENK.'. (c.) 1 said I wur sorry to see the old place go out of the 

family. It's not to the honour of those who should support the 

name. 

Dick, Honour ! I'm afeard there's not much of that left either. Who 

do you think we saw just now a-creepin' ihro' the fir copse out by the 

bridge yonder alone ? 
Pornice. How should I know ? 
Hurley, (r. c. with a laugh^ W^hy, Miss Tregarvon. We watched 

her, o' coorse. 

Peasants, {grouping toget/ier) O' coorse ! 

Dick. She'd got an app'intment ! 

PoRNic. I doubt it ! 

Dick, (sneeringly) You're one of the doubting sort, you are ! When 

some folks take to doubting there's no stoppin' 'em under a special act 

o' parliament. 

Hurley. We sighted her till she reached the Fairy's Well, where who 

should be a-waitin' for her, but her former lover — the London swell 

Captain 

Joe. (c.) You lie ! {on rocks they separate r. and l. he repeats the 

word and comes down c.) Miss Tregarvon has no lover, but Mr. George 

Penryu. 

Hurley, (r, c, who has recoiled not knowing Joe at first) Who may 



24 nobody's CillLD. 

you be? {bursts into a laugh) Why it bcj Jou ! J )u the dreamer! Joe 
the fool ! {all laugh. 

Dick, (k.) As has been to a weteriuary surgeon's, and had his maue 
clipped ! {aU laugh.) 

Hurley, (r. c. snatching whip from Dic^, and cracking it) Here just 
give me elber room ! When dogs bark too loudly they must be sent 
back to kennel ! 

Joe. (^gently) Dan Hurley, don't repeat what you said just now. 
Hurley. AV^hat ? that Sir Eobert be a bankroopt, and Miss Lucy 

a 

Joe. {half imploringly) I've warned you ! Don't rouse me ! 
Hurley. R<jusj you ! (Peasants laugh derisively. 

Dick.) He's been havin' a hexLra feed of ouis to-day. (Omnes 
laugh.) 

PoRNiC. (l.) Let 'un alone! tliere's no harm in th' lad. 
Joe. Thank'ee John, {in a broken voice) Dan Hurley, take John Por- 
nice's advice, and let me alone. 

Hurley. Who wants to meddlj with such as you ! but I say 

again 

Joe. {in a hoarse Toice, and iciping forehead idth the ends of 'kerchicj 
which Patty had twisted round his neck) Don't say it, Dan. 

Hurley. Tiiat Miss Tregarvon is a light of love — theer, now. {as he 

. utters the last icords, Joe springs upon him with the fierceness of a tiger. 

The Peasants, dr., seek to interfere, but with a vigorous arm he thrusts 

them aside, upsetting two or tlcree — then seizing Dan Hurley by the 

throat— Picture. 

Hurley. You — you — be — c-chokiug me ! 

Joe. You have lied! say that you have lied — or I swear by her 
whose purity you would traduce, to throw you over the precipice, {and 
drags him half icay up the rocks, r. and forces him on his ks^e) 

Hurley, {struggling) Help, some of you I mur-der I Peasants 
make a movement forward.) 

Joe. {with almost savage fierceness) Keep back ! do you hear ! Keep 
back, every one of you, till he has sworn not to repeat the like again.ii 

{shaking him) Swear, or I 

Hurley. I— I — 1 swear! I 

Joe, {raising him, and throwing him down rocks on to stage, L. c.)*' 

Now go I {drawing himself up, and dominating them by gesture and j 

look) (i ) I all of you ! {tJiey pause Jmlf threateningly, but give way as j 

Joe advances— with an air of regal command) 1 wish to be alone ! {they 

hurry off confusedly , R. and L Dick, icJco after a little frigJUencd 

comic manoiuvring, picks up his ichip which Hurley has dropped, goes { 
02it R. the last icitk a smaking run) Tney're afraid of me ! {laughs) 
And they're rig at — I would have tossed them one after the other over 
the precipice, like so many pebbles, had they mentioned her name 
again, ( extending his arms with a laugh of almost childish triumph) I 
am strong, I feel it ! In my heart there was not one beat or fear. 
Patty is right, neither the heart nor the arm is wanting, {placing hand 
on forehead) It's something 7iere/ All is confused and indistinct, but 
{with sudden laugh full of gayety) there's not a man in St. Arven dares 
raise a hand against me now. {he is moving up stage, but draws back 
under the shadow of a rock as he perceives old Peter Grice descending 
path, R., the same lately used by the Peasants on their entrance. The 
postmaster carries a lantern and rope and comes down very gingerly by 
the assista-iice of a staff'- — he growls and grumbles at each step. Having 
accomplished his descent, he moves up stage to brink of precipice, c, ajici 
puttii'j lantern down peeps over, then recoils in frigid.) 

t'nic I. What a dcpia ! I don't believe it has a bottom at all. Con 



ACT II. iiO 

found tlie admiral and Lis c )xsvvain, too ! I hate sailors 1 None but 
a sailor or a fool would tliink ot makinoj a will and sending- anotlier 
sailor, to carry it about \he world in a tin-case. I must riisk the de- 
BCjnt, thourrh. The will once in my hands I'm master of the situa- 
tion, and sell Lazonby ! I ] Kite soldiers! especially such a particular 
old soldier as the captain. K ^sv if I can only rv.^ach that tree I think I 
inny manage it. I'm a lifrht wei^^ht and the rope's a strong one {he is 
aJ)out to ascend L. when Joe calls to him.) 
Joe. Hilloh! 

GiiiCE. {drops rope and lantern, the light is extinguished) Mercy ! 
mercy ! It wasn't my fault ! you did it yourself ! A man at my time 
of life can't bj unswerabL; for accidents. 

Joe. {who has assigned his old half-idiotic manner) Accideat ! there'll 
be more tuau one acciduni to-day, muster, if you n-o too near the edge. 
These rocks are loose as marbles — see. {he pushes one of the pieces of 
rock yyith his foot, it rolls over and doicn precipice. Both 'men pause for 
a moment and listen as a rumbling sound conies up from the chasm like 
distant thunder. Gimce recoils with a comic exJdbition of frigid — Joe, 
R. laughing stupidly and looking ocer) Lucky that piece of r^ ck wasn t 
you or I, master. Our bones would have been splintered ijito tooth- 
picks by this lime. 

GitiCE. {\ J., uneasily) Don't launfh in that fashion, you make my fles'i 
c.ev'p ! W'liat bnngs you here ? {both come down on to stage.) 
Joe. (r.) You? 
GiiiCE. (l.) Me! 

Joe. I was sent to tell you that you';e wanted down at ihe postingr 
house. Soui body's found a letter. 

Grice. (^with galvanic jump) Ea ? found it — where? 
Joe. Hows ouldlknow'' 
Grice. Who's got it? 
Joe. Patty Lavrock. 

GiucK. {joyfully) My nic^ce! {aside) I'll have it from her if — {aloud) 
Joe, dues anyone know of this letter but Putty and yourself? 
Joe. N • "lie. 

GitiCE. If it got a'.. out that I'd lost a letter — people might think me 
careless. 
Joe' {dryly) They might. 

Grice. (feeling in 2^ockits) It's just struck me that I haveu'*- giveu 
you anything lor some weeks. 
J E. Years. 

Grice. Well, you're a good lad, a very good lad, say noihing about 
this letter to anyone, and I'll remember you {drawing Jiand out of jioc- 
ket empty) some other time, your next birthday, {aside) Ho never liad 
one. {cdoud) Where's the lantern V {crosses 11.) 
Joe. (l.) Here but the light's out. 

Grice. And I haven't a maich, {aside and peering about) Where's 

the rope ? . 

Joe. {also not having px^Tceircd the rope) Have you lost another letter ? 

Grice. {snappishly) Wi.at i.o yuu mean ? Don't laugh like that ! 1 

hate people who laugh — they're always fools. Do you think I'm in 

the habit of losing letters? 

Joe. How should I know ? but Patty told me that if I didn't find 

you, she'd take tlie letter up to the casile herself and explain 

Grice.. {toith cdmosta shriek) Explain ! WHiat ? Run, be quick, Joe. 
Joe. < aii'i {li)nping) IW hurt my loot. 

Grice. {now all fear and hustle) Then bring the ianteru alter me. 
iadde) The hope and labor of my li e"s destroyed if that fool Patty gets 
to the castle first, {samgely as he hurries off) I hate women! the7 



^Q NOBODv"s CHILD. 

must try to explain everytliinor ! (Exit Gkice, r.) Joe icatchcs Mm o^ 
then with an utter change of manner from a lumpy doicnishness to one 
of intelligent activity, ha springs up stage and ascends the rock on ichich 
the tree- is placed. The moon is again covered by flying clouds, stage for 
the most part in shadow.) 

Joe. (gaily) He may ran, the old miser i but Putty will be on her 
Way baclv iroin the castle by this time. It's Putty's fostt^r-sister, I am 
I about to risk my life once more for, and tliat gives me strengtii unl 
couruj;^ '. I heard Grice say, tlie tin case witli tiie admirars will — Miss 
Tretrarvou's fortune, was down the ravin •. (he draws match fro}7i pock- 
et, re-lights lantern which he slings round his neck) Iht muttered some- 
tliinuf about a r >i)e — I've a niin I to (yo after him, aud-(rt«c^«(f.« rocks L. 
and round imtil he reacMs tree c.) No! tlie value of tiie service is in 
t!;e risk. A terrible descent ! Scarc^dy a hold for the loot, scarcudy, a 
shrub for the hand ! Wiiat matt rs, I'm Nobody's Child, and h-ave 
none to lament me. (on top of rock c, dropping upon knees and raising 
hands) For the sake of others I pray H aven protect me. {descends be- 
neath stage. Patty is seen descending path ii., she is on her road back 
from the castle — she comes leisurely down icith a fragment of song flutter- 
ing about Jier lips as usual— a great cry is heard far down the precipice- 
ilie voice {>/ Joe— Help I) 

Grice. (suddenly apjyearing at side, n.) I've just met J.)hn Pornice. 
She is already off to the castle, (seeing Patty) Ha ! (voice of Jje 
Jieard fainter) Help ! 

Patty. It's Joe's voice. (s7ie comes down to stage oAvd regardless of self 
springs bravely on rocks ond leans over precipice) I see a lio-hr, fur down ! 
Joe! Joel Ik; does not answer ! {frantically leaning over Jar voicj, ris 
ing to a scream) Joe ! 

Voice of JoK. (fainter and fainter) Lost ! lost I 

Grice. (r. aside) And to think tliat I mi]^ht have been in h s place! 
How wonderful are the workings of a merciful Providence! 

Joe. Help, help I 
Patty, (l with a cry of joy , snatching up the rop:from ground) A cord ! 

Grice. (throwing himself upon it) 'lis mine — g.ve it me. 

Patty, (struggling with him) Ljt go, uncle. Oiie life ha, already 
been sacrific -d ; shall a second be lost, an i by your fault ? 

Grice. (releasing his hold) By mine— by min; ! (he stretches oat his 
trembling hands to stay her, but she thrusts him aside, and leaping up 
rock, the icay Joe went, fastens rope to branch of tree, throwing the other 
end over prccipire.) 

I Patty, [on her knees and paying out rope, looking over and speaking 
^the while) Tiie ropL— -the ropj ! Grasp tne rope, Jo-;! I still set- tiie 
light far down, but I feel no weight, (with a scream of joy she starts to 
her feet) He has it now, he has it (the branch to which she has attached 
the rope rapidly tearing itself away from- the tree, trunk) IL-ip. uu!;. •. 
help ! (GiucE horrorstruck and incapable (ff mocemod, has sunk back, 
against the side of scene, his hands clasp"A his ey^s rinded on the courage 
o us girl ; with quick desperate action she scize.^ ih" rope mth one /mnd. 
twisting it cd)out her arm. throws the other ann around the trunk of the tree- 

Patty, Make haste, Jcje ; make haste, while 1 liave streuL'^th. (Joe 
loithout the lantern, re-appears as vnce and strength is failing her 
— he grasps the herbage on the edge of the j)recipice jv^t as the rope es- 
cfipesfrom Patty Lavrock s Juind, and with the loose stones &c., falling 
about him in a shower, swings himself up beside her^ Savwi ! ! ! 

Joe. Saved. Patty, saved, (she sinks back fai.duij —oOY. catclies Iter 
and supporting her insensible firm with on?, arm -the moon suddenly 
emerging from a cloud, irradiates the group, andfaJXing principally on 



A-r III. 27 

Joe's stern features and Patty's ^a^e and death-hkc fo^:c, forms an ef- 
fective tableau. 

Grice. But the case, Joe ; the case. 

Joe. 'Tig here, {holds it uj), 2ncture and 

END OF ACT II. 



ACT. III. 

V SCENE FIRST. — A room in Tregarvon Castle, d^^r l. c. J^ois' of 
revelry icithout. Hunting chorus. 
Enter Lucy, l. 1 e., she pauses as alavrned. 

Lucy. How gay they seem ! Surely with ray poor bro.her it mu-^s be 
the reckless gaiety of desperation. To think that after all the exp -ri^'iice 
he has had — but a fevvsliort hours should suffice for Laz'»nby t(; regain 
the old, bad influence over hira. At limes I f<".ei inclined to tell R >bert 
all. My own girlish folly anl this false friend's villainous thrt'ats. 
Then, on the very point of doing so, my heait tiils lu •, and I dan' not. 
Robert is in this man's debt and I have cruel kuowle ge how Lizoihy 
would misuse the power he holds — and George Penryn, sn good, s.» 
generous yet so sensitive and high-spirited that 1 would ratlnrdi*' than 
confess to him the silly weakness of a school ^"-irls heart, (clatt'r of 
glasses and n&ise toithin, R.) That was the Captain's voice and my 
brother's, loud, and in anger perhaps ! and George — {going rapidly to 
side, R.) Ah ? {with a cry of delight, as George Penryn enters r.) 
5jC}eorge! I'm so glad to see you. 

Penryn. Lucy! You here! I thought you had retired to your room 
an hour aoo. Why, darling ! how pale you look a d your hands {taking 
them) are cold as ice. 

Lucy. I'm not ill, George, but, but {lier head sinks on his 

shoulder.) 

Penryn. {soothingly) Yes, yes. I understand, you feel ni-rvous and 
unsettled. 

Lucy {sobbing) No, no, it is not that. 

Penryn. {alarmed) Not that? Lucy, can it be that you repent at the 
last moment ot eiuruatiag your happiness to me? I could bear almost 
anything but that — ilial, or lo think that you loved another. 

Lucy, {quickly) Another! Oh. never! never! If I look pale and seem 
absent and strange to-night, it is {hesitating) from quite a different cause. 

Penryn. A doubt of my love for you? {smiling) You silly chi d .' 
Nevi-r let sue i a doubt as that enter your pretty little hejtd. {tenderly) 
All my happiness, present and future, is in your hands, and impatient- 
ly I count the hours till I can call you wife. Tell me then. Lucy, what 
makes your cheeks so pale, and even now is dimming your briglit eyes 
with tears? 

Lucy {looking up and smiling though witli difficulty) Nothing 1 I'm 
a very foolish giri that's all! for. 1 st-e it's you that I am making 
anxious and unhappy now I'm onlv nervous to night — nervous about 
Rob-rt ; take care of him. George, for my sake. 

Penryn. (laughing) Well, upon my word ! 1 think he's big enough 
to take care of him-elf. Oh, Lucy ! The little birding gun that I sent 
to you, do you like it ? is it true to the mafk ? 

Lucy, 1 like it much, and have tried it once from my window in the 
tower, to scare a cruel hawk from a harmless plover. 

Voices, {as at table off stage) George ! Georire Penryn ! Yoicks ! 
Stole away ! st(jle away ! 

Penryn. You hear th'-ni ? 1 must i^o. Good night, darling. Tlie 
roses will bloom nffain n tii" morning, {going /returns) Set you henrt 
at rest, Lucy. If the old home is lost you have found a new one in 
which you shall reign supreme. (Exit kissing hi-^ hand, R. 



28 nobody's child. 

Lucy, {looking after him) Dear George ! Well, to-morrow, I'll have a 
long consultation with Patty. No fear that she will betray me, and 

she's so clever that 

Re-enter George Penryn, hastily, r. 
Penryn. Lucy! I ve forgotten something — something ve.y im- 
portant. 

Lucy. What is it? 

Penryn. Something I must entrust to your keeping to be returned 
when next we meet, {pery dose to her) Guess. 
IjUCY. I can't. 

Penryn. Give it up then, {kisses her and exits laughing, r. 
Lucy runs off at the d. f. Hunting chorus again taken up — renewed 
clatter of glasses at conclusion of chorus.) 

Enter Grice cautiausly, with Slinker, a sort of lawyer's clerk, in 

seedy block, l. 
Grice. Glad you came on to-nitrhr, Mr. Slinker, You hear 'em ! 
{rvJbhing hands hHskly) We'll put a stop to tJiat merriment. You've 
brought all the necessary papers? 

Slink, (l.) All. But excuse me Mr. Grice, had'nt you better wait 
till lo-morrer? 
Grice. {sharply r ) Why ? 
Slink. {Jiumbly) The etiquette of profession. 

Grice. L -gal etiquette ! the politeness of the hangman who insists 
upon shaking h>»nds with you before he places the rope round your 
neck! What's tue good of authority to sell if that authority i:^ not 
to be acted upon. 

Slink, {with f awing expostfdation) Excuse me! but it is usual to 
give a leeth^ time, jusia it-etle. 

Grice. Nous.-nsu ! a man nt my age sliould know the value of time, 
au>i knowing- it's value, I litver give it. 
Slink. Bat co'.nniou justice, Mr. Grice. 

Grice. Coinmon jiisii'^e! Wnat do you mean? Once make Justice 
("oiuaion and who'll resofct her? You a lawyer and talk like that, I'm 
as amed of you. 

Slink. But 

Grice. Nonsense! Rustic ■ goes blindfold that she mayn't see which 
scale tlie lawyers ]-iir. tlu^ lead under! Wait below ? (SlinKER &(?2/J« 
and exits L ) A lawyer \\ ii h a consciencii ! He ought to be struck ott' tho 
r. »!..-<. He's a disgrace to his profi-ssion. Where's Joe ? What a lool 
that .elio^v is! He's no mo;t' i lea o. what's in the tin case than Patty 
has. He w » I't give ir up though. 1 liate fools, they're so obstinate. 
{laughter and clatter of glasses from inner room) Si.nce they've got ilie 
JelLi-r, 1 ve no cooice bni to act. at once. Jo • ! 

Enter J ok. followed by Patty l. 
Jo.i. {adoancing, and in hs former lumpish way) Here ! 
Grice J )e ! you're a f ol I 
Patty, {bridling i^) Weii, 1 m sur.- 1 

Grice. I non'i l>iame yoii--iL'.~! n •; your fa'ilr. Follv's like drink, 'tisn't 
every everyb dy who can c rry it i-ec >mini;iy. {lowering voice to ichisper) 
You've the tin csi^ sii 't (JoE makes mocemsnt of hand to side pocket 
which (iRiCE, with frightened glance round represses — aside {Ecc<-\i\v\c 
idio I Liiciv ! he s n ) Kuoujeuge of it's conii n s! {in his most insinu- 
aiinj in mnjr) My goo 1 Jo ? ! m_.' lU-ar J »e ! woy do you re use to givii 
it t.) me '( 

Joe. {simply, c) It isa'[ y(ni i>r<.perty. 

Grice. (r.) Not exac ly. {aside) 1 11 awe him. {aloud and vyithinu 
menm imporfance) In ujy official cuaracier as ]) stmaster of tne village 



\ 



ACT III. 20 

of St. Arven, 1 may say t'.iat I represent her majesty's Government, and 
have a Y\^hl to keep aJl things lound without a owner. 
Joe. {laiigJos) In that case you'll liave to keep me. 
Gkice {aisule) What a fool it is ! (aloud) You know what Patty has 
doiU' for you ? 
Joe. with momentary forgetfulness, and change of manner as he half 

urns toiaird.s Patty) Ha! 
, Patty. (...) Noi more i. an Joe would have done for me — foranyone. 
Jli-.'s us iiiave as a im . an l i ;i-j th-^ bt-tst ht\irt ia ■ h<' world, (JoE squee- 
zes her hand, surr-.ptidously hchind Iter lack— in coquettish «s»rfe) Ha' 
tiuni', Joi.- ! 

GmciL. iicho has caught sight of this Jjy-play , speaks aside) They like 
eacii oi iier ! At their a^je they'll believe any thing, {aloud, and icith ex- 
aggerated burst of feeling) I'll not be aa obstacle between you ! Give me 
ihiit jialiry lin Case, unci — take my ble sintr. 

Patty. Yom- i.»iessiu^! oh! ihat'snot near enough, uncle — what I 
Want is the tiu'ec liuudail pounds my mother lefi me — and 

Gkice. (who ichenever money is mentioned, seems to be seized icith an 
ague fit) Do.i't ! don'i ! you're always tryin;^ lo Lurt your [)oor uucie's 
lee lings. 

Patty. But 

GiiiCE. (stopping her) It's shocking ! really sIk eking, at my time of 
lite lo c 'nieniplate the selfishness of liie Noung! (seizing ^OY. by the 
arm as he is moving iip stage.) Where are > on going lo V 

Joe. I'o ask Sir li bert's ativice about the tin case, (noise as ofgiiests 
rising hurriedly from table, die.) 

Gkice. Stop, Joe. 1 want you — I want you as a witness, (takes 
notes from pocket^ook, and gives them to Patty) There, t litre's iiie 
money ! (aside) Fitiy pounds sr.ort— but love should be above caicula- 
lion. (aloud) Now go! I've business uiili Sir Robert, (door, Ji., opens to 
gioe egress to Sekvant in livery, carrying a salver uiih glasses, some of 
them only half emptied — staying bEUVAKT atid drinking rapidly thcre- 
■ni'dns of the wine) 1 waui to see Sir Roberi. 

Skhv. S e Sir Robert! at this time of night. You're out of vour 
senses, M:'. Gnce — litlloa! what are y u up lu Y 

GRICE. Ilsaiewasie! Wiial's tnis ? 

Serv. Port — t'other was champagne. 

(jurcij;. {drinks) lil correct the j.cidity. (impoi tantly) Take my 

11,1 III!'. 

SEiiV. Siiau'L ! I prefer ii y ov. n. (E-xit Servant, l. 

IjP.Ri:. I'lier.- ! look at that fellow! On.y taken tu-m ttie pioiiglt ail 
:t "!o 11 ! g )^ pulled out of the earth green like a leek— an^i now i » '^ 
jsM.und aiiii jxilished as a Spanish onit'n (tui'ns to Joe) Thai't^ile 
con (-(ju.-. ee rf over feeding, it i,e Ladi.'t had n.eat -Very clav he'd ] a\e 
bveu CIV 1. Wo I t lake my name — well, I'm not proud, I'll anm.unct* 
my e;f (emphaXically) and my business. 

Joi:. {advancing) 1 say master did Patty cieliver tl e letter all rght 1 

Grice. Tiie ieiier ! Patty's a fool and you're another — but 1 llT( < u 
In' rid of you bo'.h. (Exit 1\. 

JoE. That will be fortunate — for ws. 

Patty, (laying her hand upon Joe's shoulder) You won't tlunk 
badly of me b cause of my uncle, \\ill you, Jo; V 

Joe T.dnk i)adly of you! (tenderly) Do you remember. Pativ. 
( U'l-e'.-^ no fear hat I .shall ever forge i) wh< n 1 was hid tij) \Ni{h^( 
l.ve., now tisrer y,-a s ago? when Id no . e.i l.ui straw, and ^o^heIttI 
but a barn, and so weak that it Pd have had the power I shcnldn't 
have had tue heart to raise a fi..ger to drive Death awav— unless voii 
had come and like an antrel whispered words of comfort' to me ? 



30 NOBODY S CHILD. 

Patty. You mustn't call me an anncel, Joe. 

Joe. VViiy not? When a ihin^r ot bngtitness and beauty stoops 
ovof I lie mis rable beil to speak words ot" comlort to a poor aud ^ulfer- 
iu"" man, she is to li;m ilie blessedest of angels that ever walked 
heaven or earth. Not tiiat I know much about them, but I've seen 
pictures of au:,^ids, and heard parsons and such-like talk about them, 
and the more I tiiouarht ot what I'd Been,anvl wiUit I'd heard, the nio;e 
sure I was that you vva-^ one of them. 

Patty, [osri/ softly and tenderly) Dear Joe. 

Joa {emphatically) i'hj correct tlnug, mind you, marked genuine by 
the h:in I of Heaven I 

Patty, {striving to Jiide her emotion) Oh, Joe, if you go on praising- 
m^i liko iha I shall get too proud lo speak to you! 

Joe. {loith change of manner and taking her hand) Patty, do you 
thiak if you tried very iiari you migut ever come to love me — as I lovo 

yuii ? 

Patty, {coquettishly) If people try very hard, there's no knowing 

w lit they can do. 

Joa. {insisting) But 

PATr'f. {putting her hand across his mouth to prevent Ids speaking) 
H )!d vour tongu.-, sir, and don't tisk imj^ertment questions. 

Joe. {dejectedly, and with return of old manner) ^^'ell, you'n; rii ht. 
Pat,t\'; h )W could any one love me? {looking up with a sort of Jiope) 
Bat, I say, Patty, you like me just a little, you know. 

Patty, {miscfdewusly) Yes, you stupid old thing, just a le<tle, leetlo 
tluv bit, or else why did I take care of you when you were ill ? 

Joe. {brightening) That's true! 

Patty. Aud why did I turn barber, and cut your hair? 

Joe. Why indeed ? 

Patty. And share my breakfast? 

Joe. {simply) It's very odd isn't it ? 

Patty, {archly) Very quite pectdiar! But if you don't wish it, Joe, 
I'll try to love sonibodv else, there's plenty to cho ise from. 

Job. {with sudden fierceness) Love! Who? Not Will Petherick, 
tliH) cornchau llei- ? I'll break his neck as I'd .<nap a twig ! or Jim 
R 5.1 ruth, the butcher, who's had one wife already, and treated her as 
he treated his beef-steaks, whacked her to make her tender ! 

Patty, {pleased) How fierce you are all of a sudden. I don't love 
anybody, tncre ! 

J iB. {sorrowfully) 1 thoujiht nor. 

Patty, {quickly) 0\\,l do^'i nmiui that, {checking herself) ThatiUo 
say ■ 

Joe. {innocently) What? 

Patty. That vourr' a irreat big stupid, that's all. {she gives him a 
sounding kiss and is running off when he catches her and draws her 
towards him loith a burst of feeling.) 

Joe. Ah, if all women were like you, Patty, this world would be a 
better place than it is, and there would be no necessity for Heaven to 
place a rainbow of hope in the sky. {as lie kisses her hand resting on 
his bremt, touches the tin case containing tlhe icill) 

Patty. But the case, Joe ! We're forgetting Miss Lucy— 

Joe. /forofet her ! no fear of that ! 

Patty. She keeps her room — you cannot see her to-night. Let 
me take it to her! 

JoTj. {mth decision) No, Patty ! / alone must place it in her hands. 



ACT III. SI 

I ask no reward for what I have done — but just to see the old pL ai.int 
smile about her lips, and her eyes brighten through their tears when 
she knows that at last there is a break in the clouds, and that she cau 
save the old house from ruin ! 

Patty, {draicing slightly aicay from, liim) I believed you on'y 
thought of lue, Joe, and tiiat you iiadn't time to think of anybody 
els(^ 

Joe. {puzzled) Have I offended you, Patty ? 

Patty. No ; but, but you're always talking of Miss Tregarvon 

Joe. {loitli much feeling) She is so unhappy. 

Patty. I thouglit I was the only person you cared to make happy, 
Jo-? 

Joe. {iiDiocently) Oh ! dear, no ! I'd make the whole world happy if 
I (ould. {suddenly, as though alight dawns upon Mm, he looks Jier in the 
face) Why it's you who are foolish now ! I love Miss Tregarvon, and 
I love you! ii's the star and the flower ! the one I look up to and ad- 
mire — the other ! {clasping her to his breast) I wear next my heart ! 

Patty, {breaking away from him as a noise of voices, &c., is heard off 
stage,) 'R. Husli! ihey are coming this way? You'll not leave the 
castle to-night, Joe ? 

Joe. No. {laughs) It is your uncle, who has given me the order. I 
don't know of what he means, but he saya I must stop because I'm the 
man in possession. 

(Joe and Patty exeunt l. 

^rt^e?' Captain Lazonby,Geoiige Penryn, Guests.Sir 'Rowe.b.T!, agita- 
ted, a letter in his hand , and Grice, h. Dick comes on L. 

Gricis. That's the letter ! I know the seal. 

Sir R. I'm sorry that sad news should break up so pleasant a party. 
Arj you going too, Lazonby ? 

Lazon". Why as you were kind enough to Sfiy that I might have the 
loan of the bay mare, and tlie business I have in hand is very urgent — 
I have arranged to ride over to Falmouth to-night. {takes^iR Robert's 
hand shakes it warmly) We meet again to-morrow, {to Dick as he 
passes out) Is everything prepared? 

Dick, {icith meaning) Everything (Lazonby, Dick and the Guest 
depart — Lazonby and Dick whisper as they eoceunt l.) 

Sir R. {aside to Penryn) You'll not leave, Penryn? I'll join yon in 
tlie smoking-room, {as last Guest passes out Sir Robert turns and 
comes doion stage so absorbed that he does not at first jicrceive Grice) 
Sad news! yet I pray hopeful news for Lucy. JNly (cctnnic 
uncle's dislike never extended to her. Poor Lucy in a few dfiys wo 
must bid adieu to the old home for ever, {as he turns, he comes face to 
faceidth Grice, and makes a step backwards in surprise) Now Mr. 
Grice your business with me. It should be of importance to bring you 
here at this hour, {sharply) Do you generally deliver letters with the 
seal's broken ? {still more angrily) If report speaks ^true this is not the 
first time that letters have been Tampered with at St.Arvenl 

GRice. {sycophnitly) Excuse me, !Sir Robert, but 

Sir R. {haughtily) Your business in this house ? 

Grice. {with change of manner, and handing a paper) This paper 
will explain. 

Sir R. {glances at paper, and then staggers back in amazement) And 
you dare 

Grice. Dare I {witli a chuckling laugh which he stops abruptly, and 



82 nobcet'g child. 

rec )"Ai h-fore the fierce loyli and ?r)?m5(r(:Z A'7.r.' rZ-'lrTi R')BEtit) Tlik, 
h 111 -.' is Diiae ! 

S'.ii. li. Yours! {again liurriedly glancing (it X)aj>cr) Tiiu luiuu; .{ 
the liret mort<i;''iii<^*^s are 

(tIiice. Winch and Grippi-r — ir.y afjcnts — mine! 

Siu R. The bill of sale was given 

(iJircE. {quickly) To Lawrence and Shackleford, of Falmouth, my 
a cnts— mine I {laughs and rubs Ms hands.) 

Srn R. {with another j>assionate gesture) Rascal! your age protects 
you ! 

Grice. 3tTo ! the law! At my time of life there's no shield like a 
shield of parchment. I was your father's servant, Sir Robert. You 
laugh, /cri< d in tiiis very room, five-and-forty years ago — cried wi Ix 
pain, and anger,and as I wandered down the road to St. Arven, a house 
less vagal^ond, wiih tearful eyes, and a smar;ing back, I dreamed a 
dream, all alone to myself. "What, if one day," so I dreamt, " you, 
Peter Grice, should sit as master in that very hall from which you've 
been chased ■with, oaths and whipcord ? ' for those were the good old 
times mark you, when neither was spared to men of my station. 
" Watch and wait !" said 1 in my dream. " It shall be thrift against 
waste — the old race, the tortoise and the hare ! ' 

Sir'R= {aghast) Impossible! 

Grice. Why impo?sib]e? Have you never noticed a slug upon a 
garden wall ? It's a splendid 1 sson in life for a poor man — when once 
he's marked out his path, he sticks to it — and only let him alone, he's 
sure to get to the top. He may crawl, but as he crawls he leaves a 
trail of silver behind him. 

Sir. R. Bat. for your a e, Peter Grice, you should feel the whipcord 
now ! {hQ pauses, then icith an cjort) I need not ask if you have ac:ed 
on this document, 

GiiiCE. Mr. S. inker, my lawyer is below. 

Sill R. Send hisn to tin; library. I will ask no favour at ^d?Mr hands, 
be assuresl. {crosses R-aside as he goes off) Thank lieaven ! for one nig'it, 
at. le.'ist, Lncy is spired the kn'>\vledge of our d's^rrace ! 

Grice. {/chose manner lias shown an increasing nervous excitement, 
raidej his hands icith a swift, grasping movement of the fingers) AuA u -w 
iiM- J.K' I at cdl hazard j 1 v.-.il liiidiij UiVself master of the tin cas'\ a;rl 
i ;s contents ! {He exits R. 

SCEXE S7.C0:\D.— Interior of a tower in Tregaroon Castle. Th3 
i:)wer. whose interior is dioided intotwoconipartments.ishuilt on stage, 
of which it occujnes nearly the entire. On R tiie ivy-cla.d walls descend 
as to a garden or rocky dell— notion of great depth given by the tree 
t >ps, &c, L. side of tower shows a jjrecijntous descent giving an idea 
of a clear faU, icitiiout break, into the sea, the wash of wliose waters is 
hmrd, though not seen— only t'n far off 8;a line, upon which the shim- 
onering moon-beams rest, and also tip with silver the tree tops. ii. side of 
tower, whose rots are supjyjscd to be far down in the rocky dell or gar. 
d:,n. 11. compirt:n',nt ofV)w:r is the sl2epiu-j-chamb.er of Miss Tregar- 
i)on. R)om and furniture antique, but mingled with modern adjuncts 
of feminine taste, thf toilet table having handsome mirror, small vase of 
jlmoers, d-c., &c , The bed white, small and tadeful. Curtains closed. On 
chair, near toilet, riding haJnt. hat, whip, and small folding piece, the 
latter huff hidden by riding habit. A night lamp on table. Window 

' looking oat up:m garden or dell. Door l. opoting into second compart- 



ACT III. 



ment, wlii-^i is a sort of ante-diambers, icith icicle arched door at lack^ 
rciiich cau be hidden by a curtain, now drawn adde— outside of this door 
is a sort of landing, on this landing, iilainly visible to audience, the rope 
of an cdarm bell, the bell itself is in a crumbling little bell-towtr on roof 
forming apicturesque object. The furniture of this con^mrtment, antique 
chairs and tcdile, cmd iron oil lamp so 2)laced as to appear capable of 
casting a strong shadow should any object come between it and the icall 
hangs low down over table. The iccdls covered tcith tapestry— panelled 
coats ofanns,ha/f oblit rated in center. On l. of this compartment a deep 
embrasured windoio wJiich, built out from tower, juts over sect. An owl 
starts out of the in/ about icindow, and flies heavily away as Captain 
Dudley Lazonby ^head ajyj^ears above flooring of stage climbing tower. 
He pauses as exhausted.and holding to ivy uith one hand,wavcs the other 
atthe bird. He then cautiously enters Miss Tregarvon's chamber by the 

icindow. , ^ ,,^, , . , , 1 ^ 

Lazon. {looking back, as dowmn garden) Whvdiyheioht I onoujih to 
turn a squinvl dizzy. ( stejjping into room) Sli(^ can't be loner, jor I saw 
],er li"-ht gleaniino; like a t-iar ten ni luues ago. How will she, who is 
sopro'ud, and disdainful receive me Y What will the say tome? By 
Jove' what shal I say to 7ier ? It's now or never, though— the stake's 
too heavy to throw up the sponge. After t(inight, they'll be gli-d 
enou<'-h to make conditions. Its not exactly the race a gent'eraan 
would enter hiinse f to run for-but what's to be done 1 I heard a footstep. 
(listening) Its li.rs! li-ht, yet firm-perfect breed! a racehorse 
c.uldn't step cleaner, {as he speaks Miss Tkegakvon appears at back 
of compartment, l, She carries a smcdl hand lamp and a book—she is in 

a ichite peignoir. , ,s t - . . • i* ^ ^ 

Lucy, {sighing and advancing sloicly) I can t rest to-night, aiui no 
wonder its a terrible wrenching of the heart strings to leave one's Lome 
forever- beside that bad man's threats are ever ringing in my ears'. 
I can't s'eep I dare not think ; junl though I've been down to the 
library for a book, I feel that I can't read. As I crossed the corrir.or 
iust now I liear.i my brother's and George Penryn's voice, in loud and 
pa'^^ionate talk with some one, and yet my maid told me the hist guest 
rode away some time ago. crossing into it., compartment, places lamp 
on small table, R. and sits, as she does so Lazonby conceals himself) My 
heart is lull of vaeue foreboding. I believe Dudley Lazonby capable 
of every ill. {rests'her chin in her hands -bitterly) Will nothing shake 
my brother's foolish contidence in this man ? 

Lazon. {rcho has come sojtly behind Jicr) Notliing ! 

Lucy, {starts to her feet idth a low cry) A robber ! 

Lazon. {laughing) No, a lover ! , . , * 

Lucy {inakes a movement towards door, by a quicker movement 
Lazonby, still with a smile, interposes) You here ! At this hour ot the 
night in my chamber, {drawing herself up) ^^^one, sir! 

Lazon Miss Tregaivon, 1 implore >o.i, listen. 

Lucy. Beirone ! There is the door, s r. . t. 

Lazon. I'm perfectly aware of the fact. As you may perceive, i m 

standing 1 efore it. , , , . t» \ t • i +^ 

Lucy, {supporting herself idth difficulty by the table) I implore you to 

quit this room. i ir * 

1 azon In everything but that you shall command me. You must 

listen, it's imperative, Miss Tregarvon, that we understand each 

other. . T 1 •.. X1-- 

Lucy, {advancing) Then it is I who quit this room. 



ol NOBODY S CHILD. 

Lazon. {folding his artns and leaning againsi door) Not yet. (point 
itig to chair) B.^ seated. 

JiUCY. {haughtily) A command. 

Lazon". (bouyiiig deeply) A })rayer — a humble prayer! be seated — nay 
I itisisr. 

Lucy, {as with sudden rcsohition) I g'ive you three minutes by the 
clock, {pointing to small timepiece) Speak ! (seating herself in chair) 

Lazon. Tho nni! is suor--! will make the most of ii. To coin- 
irence — liave no f-ar of me. 

Lucy, {with high proud look) I have no fear ; go on, sir. 

Lazon. I liave t<-ld you tiiat I siill love you. 

Lucy. An 1 liavitinr loll me, t iere is no occasion to repeat thtj insult. 
{indicating clock) I aivj you tlm-e minutes. 

Lazon. {bows) I kno.v uot what feeling has replaced the sentiment 
you one;.* iiad lor me. 

Lucy. Con ; em | it! (Lazonby quite unmoved, hoics again) I despised 
yi'u when first I knew your character. I despised and pitied you then 
— I despise and hate you now. 

L VZON. You !ire severe. 

Lucy. I am jus', {rising) The three minutes have expired — leave 
\v '. (io ! 

[j vzoN. {with empliasis) 1 stay 

LutJY. You d.iWi nor. 

Lazo!!. {with cruel nvianing) You had better not test what I dare 
d')~{djY(,ws a chair towards her) — I repeat that I will stay here, in spite 
of you, or anyone. I will pMS:s tlui night here, and in br^ad daylio^ht 
on y. cross tlie tlire.^hold of the door. 

Lucy, {staggers hack overwhebned, and horror struck, and again leans 
on tahle for support) Great Heaven ! Is it possible man can be so 
base ? 

Lazon. {loho has seated himself between her and the door) No fear of 
intriLs on in thi.s parr of thu cisiie. {ironically) A lady's chamber is 
sac ed ! 

Lucy, {speaking with an effort to hide her emotion) Captain Lazonby! 
I knew you to hi a col -iiearit^d desiiT-'ini; man ; but I at least deemed 
you inctp.ible of t lat last infany of man — cowardice ! 

Lazon. {half rising from chair) Cowardice 1 {recovering himself with 
a smile) And to-morrow I meet your hrother face to face, and the en- 
tire househol I of Trevargon Castle here! Meet them on the threshold 
of your chamber, wit i your letters in inv hand. 

Lucy, {faintly, her hand upon her heart) And the alternative? 

Lazon. Simply tosiirn a paper I have drawn up by wide i you con- 
sent to be my wife, repudiating this younir Cornish squire, who 

Lucy, {with a low cry of pain raises her hands and presses them to her 
temples. Lazonby rises) Wiiat liave I done to deserve this persecu- 
tion ? Heaven pity me ! {rlnsping hands) and aid me against this cruel 
man! {coDsring face she sobs audibly) If I have spoken too harshly I en- 
treat you to forgive me. My brother is weak, weak and confiding, and 
your friend! I am motherless and alone. 

Lazon. Lucy ! I oifer you protectitni and a name. 

Lucy. Oh ! pity me ! If the memory of your mother still lives in 
your heart, pity me ! Oh ! pity me ! 
Lazon. Lucy ! 

Lucy. I love George Penryn. {grasping his coat and in an agony of 
entreaty) You could not. Oh I no 1 you could not be so base as 



ACT III. 35 

Lazon. (bending omr her as she kneels) Speak on ! How cliannhig-ly 
those tears become you! I never saw you look so lovely! {he makes a 
movement as he would take her in his arms— she repulses him, and springs 
to her feet. 

Lucy. Do not approach me ! There's pollution in your touch ! 

L vzoN. passionately) You Jire alone, Lucy Treaarvon ! beyond evf'ii 
the p issibility of help! aud by my life 1 swear (LucY alarmid re- 
coils before him. her foot slips, she staggers, and nearly falls, in doing 
so, she displaces riding habit and her hand rests on fowling piece, (a 
light pretty weapon.) she siKUches it up with a cry of joyful siii prise 
throws up the hammers, and standing erect levels the gun at Lazokby. 

Lucy. And hy your Wi^: \ I «^«(> swt-ar ! you pIimII Jt-ave ti.is room <.t 
once ! (Lazo.nby recoils before the leceled guv) Be jon<'. do not speak ! At 
the first word you utter, i iifii (IvAzonby stands a, moment irresolute, 
then moves backwards, till his hand rests on lock of door— she, the ithild 
advancing. He idth a face convulsed with baffled rage, and passion 
flings the door open and passes out. No sooner has he done so than 
Lucy springs forward, and locks it— then the gun drops from her hands 
and she swoons upon the ground. 

Lazon. {with gesture of fierce menace as he hears the door locked be- 
hind him.) You for iiot to exact the letters, Lucy Tretrarvou ! If I only 
knew where Dick w;is ! Ha I I forgfot the alarm bell ! One touch of the 
rope, and I ruin forever the honor and happiness of tiie Treyarvons ! 
{he rushes up to door at back of l, compartment, and discovers Joe stand- 
ing like a statue in the doorway — r.., not atfirtt recognining him) Who 
are you ? 

Joe. (r.) Nobody. 

Lazon. I know you now ! The peasants' jest ! The villao;e fool ! What 
are you doing here ? Your proper place should be the cage or the 
stocks. 

Joe. {tdth marble rigidity and quite unmoved.) And your proper place ? 
Is it here, master? 

Lazon. (haughtily) Do you question me ? Let me pass, vagrabond ! 

Joe. {withunruffl,ed calmness extends arms across doorway) Not yet! 

Lazon. Are you mad, or drunk? 

Joe. Neither one nor the other. You should be both to have ventur- 
ed here, at such an hour, and on such an errand. 

Lazcn. What do you mean ? {as he attempts to pass where rope of 
alarm bell is hanging, Joe calmly puts himback) I said not yet I I would 
speak with you, 

Lazon. You ? 

Joe. You called me vagabond justnow.and fool.Well,hard words break 
no bones. Now what say you to the folly of an overcrafty fox, who 
having crept throuyh bramble and briar till he Ims reached the nest of 
the dove finds himself caught in a trap ! (laughs ) That's a fool's jest ,do 
you know a better ? 

Lazon. {half aloud) That rascal Dick has betrayed me ? 

Joe. catching the words) No, the man you speak of is one of those 
who carry a virtue even into vice, and gratitude forbids him to betray 
even sitch a master. 

Lazon. May I ask who has worked this miracle, and endowed Orson 
with reason? 

Joe a woman. 

Lazon. Indeed ! the changes her sex make are generally in quite 



o<> kobgdV's child. 

llin contrary direction. Let me now" ask you — my regenerated friend, 
whether you have any demand to make of me ? 

Joe. An urgent one. 

l.vzoN. Name it. 

JoiL Miss Trecrarvon's letters ! 

Lazon. {wJiistles, then with a short contemptiums laugh) For a lady . ( 
i r 1 tuul breeding' she has selected a strange champion. 

Joe. {imthout noticing th£ sneer) lam of no one's selection. WIku 
"-' c ; . tiacks Virtue clianipions start up unsummoned. I demand tiiu 
. ricrs you have threatened to use against Miss Tregarvon in conse- 
(j I nc;? of your knowledcre of Admiral Tregarvon's death. 

r..\.//)N. {much startled) You know everything it seems! How mucli 
f ;;• I'Y does your knowledge extend? 

Joe. To the fact that Miss Lucy Tregarvon inherits her uncle's for. 
I a \c. 

Lazon. Your proof ? 

Joe. Her uncle's will. 

I .AzoN. {fiercely) You lie ! 

Ji)E. Well, that is plain ; yet I do not lie. The will is in this lia 
«■ - ' {he shows tin case — then replaces it in breast.) 

Lazon. {with forced laugh) A likely story — who could have brought 
i here? 

Joe. My mother — the sea ; whose voice you hear booming far b >- 
1 ' ^ — ( pointing to windoic.) 

Lazon. The will! impossible I {suddenly) How came you l)y it ? 

Joe. By the loss of one life, and at the hazard of another I found it 
a' I he bottom of the Ravine. Let's strike a bargain. 

Lazon. A bargain. 

J )!-:. Ci've me up those letters, I will myself conduct you out of the 
c;i> le uu&een by anyone. 

Lazon. {eyeing him reflectively) A bargain. Umph, why not ? 
Yxivre poor. 

Joe. {laughs) Does all this {points to his dress) look like riches. 

Lazon. Place that tin case in my hands, and you shall be made 
liappy for life. 

Joe. By what means ? 

Lazon. Money. 

Joe. [Ill Ids old dreamy way) Money! I only had but one piece of 

g"''ld in my life {aside) and hat hangs next my heart. (Lazonby, wJio 

ucni) stands by table draws out pocketbook, and taking from it a handfil 

,' oank-notes places them on table, as he does so, Joe, who Jms been 

iCitchliig his movement, makes a gesture of joyful triumph.) 

Jo3. {aside) I saw them. Tlie letters are in that pocketbook. 

Lazon. {his hand down upon notes which he rustles as he speaks) 
Tiiese bits of crisp paper represent to you a fortune, and are nearly all 
Jjrt to me of mine. 

Joe. {aside) There is danger in his ere. {with something of his former 
lumpish manner) A fortune, what those? 

Lazon. Ten notes, of ten pounds each. Count thetn. (TiAzoNBY 
takes a step back as Joe advances to table. His hand is tJirust %n his 
vest, and his smiling face becomes dark with a desperate malignity. Joe 
stoops over table as counting notes. He watches Lazonby's shadow, 
which is strongly defined and visible to Joe and oMtUence from the poai 
tion in which they stcmd.) 



Acr III. 37 

Joe. One! two ! three ! all tli(^se for im^ ? Four ! {the arm (j/Lazon- 
BY is raised loith lightning quickness. Joe turns, and catches the v])- 
raised arm ere it can descend. In the hand there is a spring dagger 
knife— for a moment the two men remain, thus looking into each other s 
eyes) Cowarii ! would you murder iiic V 

Lazon. {savagely) A luonient later, you meddling vagabond, and I 
would have struck your mit^erable li.'e out and lussed you into the 
arms of your motlier the sea ! 

Joe. Rascally night hawk ! do you tlireaten me with death ! Sconn- 
dnlund villain, any deat i wer ■ ])referable a tliousand, thousand > i:. < 
ta such a 1 fe as yours ! {as they grapple, they struggle fiercely. At 
same time, Lucy 'riiEGARVoN. ets slowly recovering from her swoon, rises 
to her knees —listening vaguely at first, then eagerly. She rises to Iter 
feet as the position breaks upon Iter. Joe, struck by knife idters a cry. 
and relerises his grasp of Lazonby— fA<? latter eit the same time nrrnclies 
from Joe's breast the tin case, but icith suchriolence that it escaxjcs from 
his own hand eind rolls to some distance on ground ) 

Lazon. Mine ! and so I destroy \\\elast hopii of the Tregarvons ! {he 
snatches up case, and rushes up steps leading to p)^<^dform and window) 
Let, the sea lako back again the tr'-^sure s e has Lrounht. {he is about 
to throw) case from uindoio ichen Joe, who has pursued him, seizes his 
upraisi'd arm.) 

JoK, {fiercely) S;op ! 

Lazon. {fiercely) Fool, let go y( rr lohi ! 

Joi'.. Never wiiu life! {struggle. Patty Lavkoc:: er.ttr6 at back and 
snatches case from the ground. She rushes to rep.- of a'jirni bell, which 
she seizes as Joe and Lazonby. again fiorely grapple and each striving 
to urge the other to the sea, disapjxar in end/rasure 'fvindow. l. Joe s 
hand first appears outside tcindow, desperately grasping ed wedl as striving 
to find a liolil, then, the head and shoulders q/' Joe appear as heat back over wa- 
ter. The door of Miss Tregarvon'' s chamber isflvng open, and Lucy standing 
on threshold levels the gun and fires — a cry from \he deep embrasure of vin- 
dow, then Lazonby is seen, to fall backwards out of ivindow., and down the 
precipice., the knife still in his hand.) 

Joe. {breathiessly — great noise of vop'es and footsteps heard) '^ll<^ 
lertois! qui k ! take tiicm. {gives \.\ i\ the p)ockct-hook, he then stetggcrs, 
then recovers himself by an effort— adds proudly) The b Ood upon them is 
Til lie!) glare of lig7ds—FK:^JiYN, (ihiCE, Sm Robebt, Sltistkeb. and 
Dick enter— Grice. and Dick in custody <?/ Policeman, doori.., at back.) 

Penryn. ^ 

and V Lucv 1 what has happened ? 

Sir R. ) 

Lucy, {very pale, bat icith head erect. spenB calmly and clearly) .\ 
mrfn ' a villain, force I his way inio my c :ii!l)er, an i I shot him ! sen-,. 
sation—pointing to Joe. whose arm Patty is bojidaging) This nob ii| 
fellow came to my assistance, and it was to save his life, 1 fired ! 

Sir R. But the man ? 

Lucy. Captain Dudley Lazonby. 

Sir R And his aim ? 

Joe. Your sister's fortune ! And {placing caseinMi&a, Tregarvoi* u 
hands) This is the will of Admiral Tregarvoul 

Lucy. i 

Penryn. ^ The will I 

Gricb. ' 



38 ^'OBODy's child. 

(Joi': passes to compartment^ l., and meets Patty — Sir Robert 
follows ) 

Sir R. And you — who are you ? 

Patty. My futuie hu-band. 

Joe. And Nobody's Child. {Talleau.) 

CUHTAIK 



SYNOPSIS. 



The scene of this drama lies in a sea-sido village upon the rocky coast of Com- 
■wall. Sir Robekt Tkegarvon, having dissipated his fortune, upon the turf, under 
mentorship of Capj. Dudley Lazonby, the castle, inhabited by him and his sister 
Lucy, is announced to be sold at auction. It is the intention of Pktkr Qkice, inn- 
keeper and postmaster, to buy up the place, where, in by-gone years, he was whip- 
ped ignominously upon suspicion of theft. Lucr is betrothed to Penryn, a Cornish 
squire, but was formerly wooed by the captain, who discarded her in consequence of 
her brother's impending ruin. Lazonby, informed, while abroad, that Admiral 
Tbegaiivon had nuide a will in favor of his niece, LccY, returns to Cornwall to in- 
duce GuiCE, with whom he has been on terms of intimacy, to intercept the letter 
informing her of her uncle's death at sea, until the adventurer has time to marry the 
heiress. Simultaneously with the arrival of the letter comes a sailor, sole survivor 
of the admiral's crew, carrying that officer's will, concealed in a tin case, wlio, mis- 
directed by Grick as to the road to the castle, falls over the rocks and is killed. In 
order to cast a stain upon Lucy's character, and thereby break off the i ossibility of her 
marriage, Lazonby induces her to meet him upon the crest of the cliffs, in order, as 
she expects, to obtain a return of letters, written by h.er in her school days. The 
interview is overheard by Joe, " Nobody's Child," who has discovered the intercepted 
letter and is now in search of the tin case in which the sailor carried the admirarg 
will. This he ultimately recovers at the risk of his life, and, beneath the minister- 
ing kindness of Grice's niece, the poor, despised somi-idiot is suddenly transformed 
into a shrewd and daring man. Baffled in an attempt to overawe Lucy into a con- 
tract of marriage with him, Lazonby, at the suL'gestion of a hunlsman, whom he 
had introduced into Sir Robert's family to serve as a spy, contrives to introduce 
himself into an insolated tower, occupied iu part by Lucy us her sleeping chamber. 
Grice, with Joe and a lawyer, proceeds to take possession of the castle by virtue of 
mortgages. Joe secrets himself in the outer portion of the tower, and, being per- 
ceived by Lazonby, who has been driven from Lucy's chamber by the presentation 
of a fowling-piece at his breast, the semi-idiot is tempted to sell the case, while Job 
perceives Lucy's letters iu the captain's pocket-book. Lazonby attempts to assas- 
sinate the boy, when a slrugijle tor life ensues. Lucy, summoned to the scene by Joe's 
cries for help, rushes to his assistance, rings the castle's alarm-bell and discharges 
her fowling-piece. During the struggle the will is taken from the boy's breast and 
tails to the ground, whence it is seized upon by Lucy's foster-sister. Upon the fir- 
ing of the shot, Lazonby falls through the window and rolls over the precipice, 
while Joe, wounded in the attempt, succeeds in securing Lucy's letters and iu re- 
storing them to her, as well as the will of the admiral. 



DE AVJTT'S 



ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DRAMA. 



" Let those laugh now who never laughed before 
ind those who always laughed nosv lau-a tae more. 

Clothing so thorough and complete in the way of Ethiopian and Comic Dramas 
I a.Ser been printed as those that appear in the following hst Jsotonly are the 
Wrexcellent the characters droll, the incidents funny, the language humorous, 
but a'the situ;tions, by-play, positions, pantomimic business, scenery, and tnck 
are 8C plainly set down and clearly explained, that the merest novice could put 
anyof then/onthe stage. Included in this catalogue are all the most laughable 
«.nd fcffective pieces of their class ever produced. 

!*rin ordering, please copy the ligures at the commencement of each play, 
which indicate the number of the piece in "De Witt's Ethiopian and Comic 

^""^^^ Any of the following plays sent, postage free, on receipt of pric-- 
15 Ce.t. Eacl. Address. ^^^^^^^ ^ ^^ ,^,TT, 

JVb. 33 Rose Street, JSTeiv York. 



The figures in 



the columns iniicate the number of characters-M. male, 



F. female. 



No 



M. F. 



73. African Box, burlesque, 2 scene 5 
107. Mricanus Bluebeard, musical 

Ethiopian buriesque^ ^ 

43. Baby Elephant, sketch, 2 scene 7 
79. Barney's Courtship, musical 

interlude, 1 act •••••• I 

43. Bad Wiiiskey, sketch 1 scene. 2 
6. Black C nap from Whitechapel, 

negro piece ,••••••; J n 

10 Black Chemist, sketch, 1 scene 3 
ll! Black-ey'd William, sketch, 2 

scgugs ,,..-•• .-•••••••••*•• ^ ■*■ 

40. Big Mistake, sketch, 1 scene.. 4 

78. Bogus Indian, sketch, 4 scenes 5 2 
89 Bo^us Talking Machines (The) 



farce, 1 scene , ^ , . 

34. Bruised and Cured, sketch, 1 

108. Charge of the Hash Brig^e, 

Irish musical sketch -J <« 

35. Coal Heaver's Revenge, negro 

sketch, 1 scene b u 

41. Cremation, sketch. 2 scenes... 8 l 

12 Ddo-uerreotypes, sketch, 1 scene d U 
53'. Damon and Pythias, burlesque, 

2 scenes ,....•«••••••••••••" ^ ^ 

63. Darkey's Stratagen^, 1 act... 3 1 

110. De Black Magician, Ethiopian 

comicality, 1 scene .......... 4 ^ 

111. Deeds of Darkness, Ethiopiaii 

extravaganza. 1 act 6 1 

50. Draft (Tlie), sketch, 1 act. .... b 
64 Dutchman's Ghost. 1 scene... 4 1 



No. 

95. 
67. 
4. 
98. 
52. 
25. 

51. 

88. 

106. 



F. 





4 
2 



83. 

77. 

17. 
58. 
31. 
20. 
82. 
86. 
70. 
61. 
23. 

3. 

48. 
68. 
71. 
33. 
94, 



Dutch Justice, sketch, 1 ecene 11 
Editor's Troubles, farce, 1 Ece. 6 

Eh ? What is It ? sketch 4 

Elopement (The), farce, 1 scene 4 
Excise Trials, sketch, 1 scene. 10 
Feliow that Looks Like Me, in- 
terlude, 1 scene 2 

Fisherman's Luck, 1 scene — 2 
First Night (The), Dutch farce, 

1 act 

Gambrinus, King of Lager 
Beer, Ethiopian burlesque, 2 

scenes 

German Emigrant (The),8ketch 
1 scene ...,.••••••••••"•••••• 

Getting Sqi»ire on the Call Boy, 

sketch, 1 sfcene 3 

Ghost (The), sketch, 1 act 2 

Ghost in a Pawnshop, 1 scene. 4 

Glycerine Oil, sketch 3 

Going for the Cup, interlude. . 4 
Gooa Night's Rest, 1 scene. . . 3 

Gripsack, sketch, 1 scene 3 

Guide to the Stage, sketch.-.. 3 

Happy Couple, 1 scene 2 

Hard Times, extravaganza, 1 
scene ..•••••• .•.-••••"••••••• ^ 

Hemmed In, sketch 3 

High Jack, the Heeler, 1 scene 6 

Hippotheatron. sketch 9 

In and Out, sketch, 1 scene... 2 
Jealous Husband, sketch — 2 1 
Julius, the Snoozer, 3 6oen«e . ?" • 



4 a 



8 1 
2 3 



DB WITT'S ETHIOPIAN AND COMIC DHAjIA (Continued). 



No. 
1G.3. 

1. 
36. 

18. 
60. 
37. 
90. 
109. 
19. 
96. 

JOl 



44 

49 

21 



76. 

87. 

9. 

57. 

65. 
66. 
91. 

92. 
14. 

45. 

105. 

55. 

81. 
26 
15. 
59. 
60. 

21. 
84. 
38. 
74. 
46. 
69. 
56. 
72. 

7. 

13. 

16. 

47. 

54. 
100. 
102. 

34. 

2. 

104. 

5. 

2a 

62. 



M. F. j No. 

Katrina's Little Game, Dutch I 30. 

act, 1 scene 1 2 { 15. 

Last of the Mohicans, sketch. .3 1 ; 

Laughing Gas, sketch, 1 scene. C 1 '' 93. 

Live Injun, sketch, 4 .scenes. .. 4 1 29. 

Lost Will, sketch 4 9?. 

Lucky Job, farce, 2 scenes 3 2 , 

Lunatic (The), farce, 1 scene.. 3 9"'. 
Making a Hit, farce, 2 scenes .40 

Malicious Trespass. 1 scene... 3 65. 
Midnight Intruder (The), farce, j 113, 

1 scene 6 1 113 

Mollie Moriarty, Irish music- 114 

al sketch, 1 scene 1 1 

Mutton Trial, sketch, 2 scenes 4 115 

IMusical Servant, sketch, 1 see. 3 
Night in a Strange Hotel, 116 

sketch, 1 scene 2 

Obeying Orders, sketch 1 scene 2 1 n; 
One Hundredth Night of Ham- ntr 

let, sketch 7 1 

One Night in a Barroom, 119. 

sketch 7 

One, Two, Three, 1 scene 7 120. 

Pete and the Peddler, Negro 

and Irish sketch, 1 scene 2 .t 121. 

Policy Players, sketch, 1 scene 1' 
Pompey's Patients, interlude. 122. 

2 scenes 6 

Porter's Troubles, 1 scene 6 1 123, 

Port Wine vs. Jealousy, sketch 2 1 
Painter's Apprentice (The), 124, 

farce, 1 scene 5 C 

Polar Bear (The), 1 scene 4 1 125. 

Recruiting Ottice, sketch, 1 act. 5 
Eemittance from Home, 126. 

sketch. 1 scene 6 

Rehearsal (The), Irish farce, 2 127. 

scenes 4 2 

Rigging a Purchase, sketch, 1 

scene... 3 

Rival Artists, sketch, 1 scene. 3 

Rival Tenants, sketch 4 

Sam's Courtship, farce, 1 act.. 2 1 

Sausage Makers, 2 scenes 5 1 

Scenes on the Mississippi, 

2 scenes 6 

Scampini, pantomime, 2 scenes 6 8 

Serenade(The), sketch, 2 scenes 7 

Siamese Twins, 2 scenes 5 

Sleep Walker, sketch, 2 scenes 3 

Slippery Day, sketch, 1 scene. 6 1 

Squire for a Day, sketch 5 1 

Stage-struck Couple, 1 scene.. 2 1 

Stranger, burlesque, 1 scene... 1 2 

and 2 chil Iren. 

Stupid Servant, sketch, 1 scene 2 

Streets of New York, 1 scene . 6 

Storming the Fort, 1 scene 5 

Take it, Dont Take It, 1 scene 2 

Theai Papers, sketch, 1 scene. 3 
Three Chiefs (The). 2 scenes ..60 

Three A. M., sketch, 2 scenes. 3 1 
Three Strings to One Bow, 

sketch, 1 scene 4 1 

Tricks, sketch 5 2 

TwoAwfuls (The), 1 scene.... 5 

Two Black Roses, sketch 4 1 

Uncle Eph's Dream, 2 scenes . 3 1 

Vinegar Bitters, sketch, 1 scene 6 1 

Wake Up. William Henry. ... 3 



M. JP. 

Wanted, a Nurse, 1 scene 4 (i 

Weston the Walkist, Dutch 

sketch, 1 scene ~ 1 

What Shall 1 Take ? farce, 1 act 8 1 
ASHio Died First ? 1 scene. ... 3 1 
Who's the Actor ? farce, 1 

scene 4 

Wrung Woman in the Right 

Place, sketch, 2 scenes — .' . . 2 9 
Young Scamp, sketch, 1 scene. 3 Q 
The Coming Man. sketcli, laci 3 1 

Ambition, farce, 2 scenes . 7 

One Night in a Medical College, 

sketcli, 1 scene 7 1 

Private Boarding, comedy, 1 

scene 5 1 

Zacharias' Funeral, farce, 1 

scene . 5 

Motor Bellows, comedy, 1 scene 
U^len's Funny Babies, bur- 

'reque 6 

My Wife's Visitors, comic 

drama, l>cene 6 1 

Body Snatcners (The), Ke;:r>> 

sketch, 2 scenf^-s 3 1 

Stocks Up! Stocks l^'^wn ! 

Negro farce, 1 scene 2 

Ticket Taker, Nej^ro taice, 1 

scene 2 

The Intelligence Office, Ethio- 

])ian sketch, 1 scene 2 1 

Deaf as a Post, Ethiopian 

sketch, 1 scene 2 

Oh, Hush ! >.egro Operatic 

Olio, 3 scenes 4 t 

Black Statue, N- gio furci-, 1 

scene 4 £ 

Blinks and Jinks, Ethiopian 

sketch, 1 scene 3 1 



DE WITT'S ACTING PLAYS (Continued). 



■^ 



No. M. r. 

144. Lancashire Lasa, melodrama, 5 acts.l2 3 

34. Larkins' Love Letters, farce, 1 act . . 3 2 

137. L' Article 47, drama, 3 acts 11 5 

111. Liar (The), comedy, 2 acts 7 2 

119. Life Chase, drama, 5 acts 14 5 

165. Living Statue (The), farce, 1 act 3 2 

48. Little Annie's Birthday, farce, 1 act. 2 4 

32. Little Eebel, farce, 1 act 4 3 

164. Little Ruby, drama, 3 acts 6 6 

109. Locked In, comedietta, 1 act 2 2 

85. Locked In with a Lady, sketch, 1 act. 1 1 

87. Locked Out, comic scene 1 2 

143. Lodgers ana Dodgers, farce, 1 act.. 4 2 

189. Leap Year, musical duality, 1 act.. . 1 1 

163. Warcoreiti , drama, 3 acts 10 3 

154. Maria and Magdalena, ] lay, 4 acts . 8 6 
C3. Marriage at Any Price, farce, 1 act. 5 3 
39. Master Jones' Birthday, farce, 1 act. 4 2 

7. Maud's Peril, drama, 4 acts 5 3 

49. Midnight Watch, drama, 1 act 8 2 

15. Milky White, drama, 2 acts 4 2 

46. Miriam's Crime, drama, 3 acts 5 2 

51. Model of a Wife, farce, 1 act 3 2 

184. Money, comedy, 5 acts 17 3 

108. Mr. Scroggins, farce, 1 act 3 3 

188. Mr. X., farce, 1 act 3 3 

169. My Uncle's Suit, farce, 1 act 4 1 

130. My Wife's Diary, farce, 1 act 3 1 

92. My Wife's Out, farce, 1 act. . 2 2 

193. My Walking Photograph, musical 

duality, 1 act 1 1 

140. Never Keckon Your Chickens, etc., 

farce, 1 act 3 4 

115. New Men and Old Acres, comedy, 3 8 5 

2. Nobody's Child, drama, 3 acts 8 3 

57. Noemie, drama, 2 acts 4 4 

104. No Name, drama, 5 acts 7 5 

112. Not a Bit Jealous, farce, 1 act 3 3 

185. Not So Bad as We Seem, play, 5 acts.l4 3 
84. Not Guilty, drama, 4 acts 10 6 

117. Not Such a Fool as He Looks, drama, 

3 acts 5 4 

171. Nothing Like Paste, farce, 1 act 3 1 

14. No Thoroughfare, drama, 5 acts and 

prologue 13 6 

t73. Off the Stage, comedietta, 1 act 3 3 

176. On Bread and Water, farce, 1 act. . . 1 2 

90. Only a Halfpenny, farce, 1 act 2 2 

170. Only Somebody, farce, 1 act 4 2 

33. One too Many for Him, farce, 1 act. 2 3 

3. £100,000, comedy, 3 acts 8 4 

97. Orange Blo-^soms, comedietta, 1 act. 3 3 
66. Orange Girl, drama, in prologue 

and 3 acts 18 4 

172. Ours, comedy, 3 acts 6 3 

94. Our Clerks, farce, 1 act 7 5 

45. Our Domestics, comedy farce, 2 acts 6 6 

155. Our Heroes, military play, 5 acts. . .24 5 
178. Out at Sea, drama in prologue and 

4 acts 16 5 

147. Overland Eoute, comedy, 3 acts 11 5 

156. Peace at Any Price, farce, 1 act 1 1 

82. Peep o' Day, drama, 4 acts 12 4 

127. Peggy Green, far>e, 1 act 3 10 

23 Petticoat Parliament, extravaganza, 

in one act 15 24 

62. Photographic Fix, farce, 1 act 3 2 

A COMPLETE 



No. K. r. 

61. Plot and Passion, drama, 3 acts 7 2 

138. Poll and Partner Joe, burlesque, 1 

act 10 3 

110. Popplcton's Predicaments, farce, 13 6 

50. Porter's Knot, drama, 2 acts 8 2 

59. Post Boy, drama, 2 acts 5 3 

95. Pretty Horse-Breaker, farce, 1 act.. 3 10 

181 and 182. Queen Mary, dram:i, 4 acts. 38 8 

157. Quite at Home, comedietta, 1 act. . . 5 2 
196. Queerest Courtship (The), comic op 

eretta, 1 act 1 1 

132 Race for a Dinner, farce, 1 act 10 

183. Richelieu, play, 5 acts 16 2 

38. Rightful Heir, drama, 5 acts 10 2 

77. Roll of the Drum, drama, 3 acts 8 4 

13. Ruy Bias, drama, 4 acts 12 4 

194. Rum, drama, 3 acts 7 4 

195. Rosemi Shell, travesty, 1 act, 4 

scenes 6 3 

158. School, comedy, 4 acts 6 6 

79. Sheep in Wolf's Clothing, drama, 17 5 

37. Silent Protector, farce, 1 act 3 2 

35. Silent Woman, farce, 1 act 2 1 

43. Sisterly Service, comedietta. 1 act.. 7 2 
6. Six Months Ago, comedietta, 1 act. 2 1 

10. Snapping Turtles, duologue, 1 act. . 1 1 

26. Society, comedy, 3 acts 16 5 

78. Special Performances, farce, 1 act.. 7 3 
31. Taming a Tiger, farce, 1 act 3 

150. Tell-Tale He.irt, comedietta, 1 act. . 1 2 

120. Tempest in a Teapot, comedy, 1 act. 2 1 
146. There's no Smoke Without Fire, 

comedietta, 1 act 1 2 

83. Thrice Married, personation piece, 

lact 6 1 

42. Time and the Hour, drama, 3 acts. . 7 3 

27. Time and Tide, drama, 3 acts and 

prologue 7 5 

133. Timothy to the Rescue, farce, 1 act. 4 2 
153. 'Tis Better to Live than to Die, 

farce, 1 act 2 1 

134. Tompkins the Troubadour, farce, 13 2 
29. Turning the Tables, farce, 1 act 5 3 

168. Tweedie's Rights, comedy, 2 acts.. 4 2 

126. Twice Killed, farce, 1 act 6 3 

56. Two Gay Deceivers, farce, 1 act 3 

123. Two Polts, farce, 1 act 4 4 

198. Twin Sisters (The), comic operetta, 

lact 3 1 

162. Uncle's Will, comedietta, 1 act 2 1 

106. Up for the Cattle Show, farce, 1 act. 6 2 

81. Vandyke Brown, farce, 1 act 3 3 

124. Voluuteei' Review, farce, 1 act 6 6 

91. Walpole, comedy, 3 acts 7 2 

118, Wanted, a Young Lady, farce, 1 act. 3 

44. War to the Knife, comedy, 3 acts. ..54 
105, Which ofthe Two? comedietta, lact 2 10 

98. Who is Who? farce, 1 act 3 2 

12. Widow Hunt, comedy, 3 acts 4 4 

5. William Tell with a Vengeance, 

burlesque 8 2 

136. Woman in Red, drama, 3 acts and 
prologue 6 

'„.^, «■-. 1.-. '\Tnwmrr. ftn/1 Tiff OOnTY^O OofHC 



161. 



Woman's Vows and Mason's Oaths, 

4 acts 10 4 

Woodcock's Little Game, farce, 2 4 4 

Y''oung Collegian (Cantab.), farce, 13 3 




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miwm THEATEICALS, 



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making Scenery, getting up Costumes, "Making Up" to represent 
different ages and characters, and how to produce stage Illusions and 
Effects. Also hints for the management of Amateur Dramatic Clubs, 
and a list of pieces suitable for Drawing Room Performances. Hand- 
somely illustrated with Colored Plates. 

Price, 25 Cents, 



DE WITT'S SELECTIONS 

FOR 

AMATEDE Al PAILOI TIEATEICAIS. 



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Being choice selections from the very best Dramas, Comedies and 
Parces. Specially adapted for presentation by Amateurs, and for 
Parlor and Drawing Room Entertainments. 

Price, 25 Cents, 
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